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What's The Strongest Knot, And How Do We Know?


Published on 2025-03-08 06:22:28 - IFLScience
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  • Of course, Alexander had no time for crafts. He broke the knot open, quite literally - with a sword - and went on to rule all of Asia. But what might a real Gordian knot - reputedly the strongest knot to ever exist - have looked like? That's an interesting question.

The article from IFLScience discusses the quest to find the strongest knot, detailing how researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, conducted experiments to determine which knot configuration could withstand the most force before breaking. They tested various knots using a tensile testing machine, which measures the force required to break a material. The study found that the Carrick bend, when properly tied, was among the strongest, outperforming others like the figure-eight knot and the overhand knot in terms of strength. However, the strength of a knot also depends on factors like the material used, the diameter of the rope, and how the knot is tied. The research not only has implications for practical applications in sailing, climbing, and rescue operations but also contributes to understanding the physics of knots, showing that the complexity and structure of knots can significantly influence their strength.

Read the Full IFLScience Article at:
[ https://www.iflscience.com/whats-the-strongest-knot-and-how-do-we-know-78297 ]