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have you ever wondered why spaghetti doesn't break into two equal pieces when you snap it in half? this seemingly simple question has puzzled physicists for decades, including the famous physicist richard feynman. but thanks to a recent experiment, we now have a better understanding of the physics behind snapping spaghetti.\n\nin this article, we'll explore the mysterious physics of snapping spaghetti and the vibrational experiment that helped us crack the code. we'll also take a look at the history of this fascinating phenomenon and the people who have dedicated their lives to studying it.\n\n### the history of snapping spaghetti\n\nin 1995, french physicists joel keller and joseph keller published a paper in the journal of applied mechanics that described the phenomenon of spaghetti breaking into more than two pieces when snapped. this paper sparked a debate among physicists, with some arguing that the phenomenon was due to the spaghetti's shape and others suggesting that it was due to the way it was snapped.\n\nin 2005, the french physicists were awarded the ig nobel prize in physics for their work on the spaghetti snapping phenomenon. the ig nobel prize is a parody of the nobel prize and is awarded for achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think."\n\n### the vibrational experiment\n\nin 2016, a team of researchers from the university of california, san diego, and the university of california, los angeles, conducted a vibrational experiment to study the physics of snapping spaghetti. they used a high-speed camera to capture the moment when the spaghetti broke and analyzed the footage to determine the cause of the phenomenon.\n\nthe researchers found that the spaghetti's shape and the way it was snapped were not the only factors at play. they discovered that the spaghetti's vibrations played a crucial role in determining how it broke. when the spaghetti was snapped, it would vibrate at a specific frequency, causing it to break into more than two pieces.\n\n### the math behind snapping spaghetti\n\nthe math behind snapping spaghetti is complex and involves a branch of mathematics called kirchhoff rods. kirchhoff rods are a mathematical model used to describe the behavior of thin, flexible rods, such as spaghetti. the model takes into account the rod's shape, stiffness, and the forces acting on it.\n\nthe researchers used kirchhoff rods to create a computer simulation of the spaghetti snapping phenomenon. they found that the simulation accurately predicted the number of pieces the spaghetti would break into and the angles at which it would break.\n\n### the takeaway\n\nthe physics of snapping spaghetti may seem like a trivial topic, but it has important implications for fields such as materials science and engineering. by understanding how spaghetti breaks, we can design stronger and more durable materials that can withstand the forces of vibration and impact.\n\nso the next time you snap a piece of spaghetti in half, take a moment to appreciate the complex physics behind this simple act. and if you're feeling adventurous, try conducting your own vibrational experiment with a piece of spaghetti and a high-speed camera. who knows what you might discover?\n\n### additional resources\n\nif you're interested in learning more about the physics of snapping spaghetti, check out these resources:\n\n- secret of snapping spaghetti in slow motion - smarter every day 127\n- comment thread on reddit\n- spaghetti computer simulation\n- french paper describing studying the phenomenon, which won them an ignoble prize in 2005\n- kirchhoff rods\n\n### conclusion\n\nin conclusion, the physics of snapping spaghetti is a fascinating topic that has captured the attention of physicists for decades. by conducting a vibrational experiment and using kirchhoff rods to create a computer simulation, researchers have gained a better understanding of the complex forces at play. so the next time you snap a piece of spaghetti in half, take a moment to appreciate the science behind this simple act.\n\n### backlinks\n\n- the mysterious world of antimatter: a journey into the unknown\n- 9 mind-blowing light experiments that will change your view of reality\n- risking my life to settle a physics debate\n\n### related articles\n\n- the science of spaghetti: how to cook the perfect pasta\n- the physics of pasta: how to make the perfect al dente
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