In tearing a paper towel or plastic bag

pbody

1. In tearing a paper towel or plastic bag from a roll, why is a sharp jerk more effective than a slow pull



2. I found this answer online

A quick, sharp jerk means a greater acceleration and a greater acceleration means a greater force. And it is force that tears the paper towel or plastic bag


3. The attempt at a solution

I was thinking not only the force of the jerk like the answer online said but wouldn't it be as well because the roll is ƩF = 0 and the quick acceleration of the one piece while the rest remain unmoved?

I don't know if that is confusing sorry if it is.

CWatters

Is the roll free to rotate?

If so ask yourself why the paper would ever tear?

pbody

I am making an assumption saying it is free to rotate, every single one I have encountered is. usually it tears because of the perforated edges. As well as I am assuming that the force and the jerk kind of the theory of the bus - when the bus accelerates you move forward and when it decelerates you move backward. the paper towel that you grabbed in my mind has the same theory its moving at a constant rate with a sudden change.

CWatters

I think the word you are looking for is "Inertia".