Why headphone cords get all tangled up!

charmerci · « **on:** 20 Jun 2014, 01:47 am »

Quick article on the research. Obviously, it's about cords getting tangled up.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/seriouslyscience/2014/06/18/scientific-explanation-earphones-always-tangled/?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email#.U6ONCbG8CuL

P.S. don't waste any time on the comments. Dominated by one guy who disses basic research.

Guy 13 · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Jun 2014, 02:25 am »

Quote from: charmerci on 20 Jun 2014, 01:47 am

Quick article on the research. Obviously, it's about cords getting tangled up.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/seriouslyscience/2014/06/18/scientific-explanation-earphones-always-tangled/?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email#.U6ONCbG8CuL

P.S. don't waste any time on the comments. Dominated by one guy who disses basic research.

Well then...
No comments ! Period !

Guy 13

G Georgopoulos · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Jun 2014, 02:55 am »

This doesnt happen with my fabric insulator cable headphones only with plastic cables...
would be intereresting to know why it always happens with plastic cables...

charmerci · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Jun 2014, 03:07 pm »

Quote from: G Georgopoulos on 20 Jun 2014, 02:55 am

This doesnt happen with my fabric insulator cable headphones only with plastic cables...
would be intereresting to know why it always happens with plastic cables...

The plastic cords are slippery and slide too easily.

Retrovert · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Jul 2014, 04:11 am »

This article from the DailyMail has more details in terms of drawings and photos:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2662681/Mystery-unravelled-Headphones-form-complex-knots-pocket-loose-ends-weave-coiled-strands.html

It does not, however, address the nasty tangles that arise in coiled wires where the direction of the coiling reverses and they're tricky (at least for me) to readily reverse.

I was hoping the OP had a solution, which is why I opened the thread...

Noseyears · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Jul 2014, 12:08 am »

This is the answer:

joeling39 · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Jul 2014, 12:30 am »

Something out of my foggy memory from high school physics - tangled together = lower energy state, neatly untangled = higher energy state. All things being equal, lower energy state prevails.