The Knot Conundrum: Why We Misjudge Knot Strength
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Phys.org
A study by Johns Hopkins University reveals that people struggle to visually assess the strength of knots, despite their familiarity with them. Participants consistently failed to identify the strongest knot among similar ones, even when shown videos or diagrams. This suggests a blind spot in our intuitive physical reasoning, as we cannot easily discern the internal structure of non-rigid objects like knots. The research highlights the complexity of understanding knot strength and suggests that expertise, such as that of sailors, might improve performance.
