Inertia Homework Help: Understanding the Concept of Stretched Objects

[Ineedhelpwithphysics]

Homework Statement

Which is more likely to break: A hammock stretched tightly between a pair of trees or one thats sags more when you sit on it.

Relevant Equations

nothing

I have no clue. The answer is the stretched one but i don't know why.

 

[kuruman]

Try to reason this out. It's common sense.

 

[Ineedhelpwithphysics]

I don't get it how can it break when it is stretched tightly but not when it sags, Arent you going to break the hammock if it sags since you have a lot of weight?

 

[hmmm27]

I don't get it how can it break when it is stretched tightly but not when it sags, Arent you going to break the hammock if it sags since you have a lot of weight?

I think the question refers to an hammock that still has some sag in it after you've sat down on it, not one which has maxed out elasticity halfway through the arse-parking process.

 

[Ineedhelpwithphysics]

This is too confusing

 

[hmmm27]

It might be the backwards way of doing thing, but try reasoning out under what condition(s) the book answer is correct.

 

[ergospherical]

Draw a free body diagram for a hammock with "sag angle" $\theta$,
assume the hammock will break when the tension in either exceeds some critical value $T^*$,
and investigate how the weight of the person required to break the hammock is related to the the angle $\theta$.

 

[Ineedhelpwithphysics]

Ok but then which is more likely to break then the sagging or the stretching.

 

[berkeman]

Thread is locked for Moderation. Folks, please report homework threads where the OP shows no work.