What is the scientific explanation of how friction is being used

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What is the scientific explanation of how friction is being used to curl a ribbon when rubbed with scissors (as in gift wrapping)?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

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Hello Customer (name blocked for privacy),

Welcome to Just Answer. When you place the scissors on the side of the ribbon and pull you are actually deforming the material that makes up the ribbon. A better explanation and I believe more in line with your question is quoted below.

New Scientist.com wrote:

To curl a ribbon

To curl a ribbon with a pair of scissors, you pull the ribbon tightly across the sharp side of the blade - or the blunt side if you are safety-conscious. If the latter, a finger is pressed against this scissor edge, creating a right angle around which the ribbon has to bend quite sharply. This bending takes the fabric beyond its elastic limit, which leaves it permanently bent.[/quote]
http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg18624982.500

Thank You,

Michael D.

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Reply to Michael D's Post: Are you able to provide another example of how this works apart from my example of ribbon and scissors? I am already quite familiar with HOW to do it. I really need an in depth reason for why this happens. Perhaps relating it to something else may solidify my understanding. Thanks again.

Hello,

The molecular structure of the ribbon is being deformed to the point that it can not return to it's original shape.

Lets take an example of a piece of paper. Roll up the paper into a tube with out making any creases in it. Once you let go the piece of paper will flatten out again once it is smoothed. Rolling the paper into a tube does not permanently change the internal structure.

Now if you take that same piece of paper and fold it in half. Now unfold it and try to totally remove the crease. The internal structure of the fibers of the paper have been permanently changed. No way, no how are you going to be able to totally remove the crease from the fold of the paper. This is what is happening to the ribbon. You can roll the ribbon and it will unroll back to it's original shape, but once you apply the edge to it the internal structure of the material that the ribbon is made of is permanently changed.

I hope this is a better explanation. I can understand how something works, but I am poor at conveying it in a way so someone else can understand.

Thank You,

Michael D.

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