Inertia Homework Help: Understanding the Concept of Stretched Objects

In summary, the conversation is discussing the concept of a hammock breaking under tension. The question is whether a hammock is more likely to break when it is stretched tightly or when it sags. The conversation also mentions the importance of reasoning and drawing a free body diagram to understand the conditions under which the hammock will break. The thread is then locked for moderation due to the lack of effort shown by the original poster.
  • #1
Ineedhelpwithphysics
42
7
OP has been warned about showing no work and has been advised to re-post and show their best efforts
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.
 
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  • #2
Try to reason this out. It's common sense.
 
  • #3
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?
 
  • #4
Ineedhelpwithphysics said:
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.
 
  • #5
This is too confusing
 
  • #6
It might be the backwards way of doing thing, but try reasoning out under what condition(s) the book answer is correct.
 
  • #7
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##.
 
  • #8
Ok but then which is more likely to break then the sagging or the stretching.
 
  • #9
Thread is locked for Moderation. Folks, please report homework threads where the OP shows no work.
 

What is inertia?

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. This means that an object will continue to stay at rest or in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

How does inertia relate to stretched objects?

Inertia is related to stretched objects because the stretched object has potential energy due to its stretched state. This potential energy resists any changes in the object's state of motion, causing it to return to its original state when released.

What factors affect the amount of inertia in a stretched object?

The amount of inertia in a stretched object is affected by its mass and the amount of force applied to it. The greater the mass of the object, the more inertia it will have. Similarly, the greater the force applied to the object, the more it will resist changes in its state of motion.

How does understanding inertia help in everyday life?

Understanding inertia can help in everyday life by allowing us to predict and control the behavior of objects. For example, knowing that a stretched rubber band will snap back when released can help us use it for various purposes, such as launching objects or holding things together.

What are some real-life examples of inertia with stretched objects?

Some real-life examples of inertia with stretched objects include a catapult launching a projectile, a spring returning to its original position after being stretched, and a rubber band snapping back when released.

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