2017-04-26

[public] 1.37M views, 25.5K likes, dislikes audio only

MinuteEarth

We appreciate your support on https://www.patreon.com/MinuteEarth

Getting wet isn’t REALLY what makes wool shrink; it merely exacerbates the friction between the wool fibers, which is stronger in one direction than another, so when agitated in the washer or dryer, they migrate in relation to each other in a process called “felting.”

___________________________________________

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords:

Fiber: a threadlike structure forming part of the muscular, nervous, connective, or other tissue in the human or animal body

Felting: the process by which wool or another textile can be agitated, often along with moisture or heat, to cause the fibers to migrate amongst themselves and mat together into a dense smooth surface

Ratchet: a device consisting of a bar or wheel with a set of angled teeth that allow motion in one direction only

Wool: soft curly or wavy hair forming the coat of a sheep or similar animal, especially when cut off the animal & prepared for use in making cloth or yarn

Mammal: a warm-blooded, bony, & hairy/furry animal, the females of which give birth to live young and nurse them with milk

___________________________________________

Credits (and Twitter handles):

Script Writer: Emily Elert (@eelert)

Script Editor: Alex Reich (@alexhreich)

Video Illustrator: Qingyang (@QCVisual)

Video Director: Henry Reich (@MinutePhysics)

Video Narrator: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)

With Contributions From: Ever Salazar, Peter Reich, David Goldenberg

Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder

_________________________________________

Like our videos?

Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube: http://goo.gl/EpIDGd

Support us on Patreon: https://goo.gl/ZVgLQZ

Also, say hello on:

Facebook: http://goo.gl/FpAvo6

Twitter: http://goo.gl/Y1aWVC

And find us on itunes: https://goo.gl/sfwS6n

___________________________________________

If you liked this week’s video, we think you might also like:

Is it Better to Walk or Run in the Rain? /youtube/video/3MqYE2UuN24

___________________________________________

References:

Gupta, N. P., Agarwal, R., & Pant, S. (2009). Factors affecting felting of wool: An overview. Colourage, 56(1).

Johnson, N. A., & Russell, I. (Eds.). (2008). Advances in wool technology. Elsevier. https://goo.gl/vZ9eCn

Makinson, K. R. (1972). The Role of the Scales of Wool Fibers in Felting and in Shrinkproofing. Wool Sci. Rev, (42), 2-16.

Makinson, K. R. (1979). Shrinkproofing of wool (Vol. 8). M. Dekker. Chicago.

Menkart, J., & Speakman, J. B. (1945). Scaliness of Wool Fibres. Nature, 156, 143-143. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v156/n3953/abs/156143a0.html

van der Vegt, A. K. (1955). A study on the mechanism of wool felting. Excelsior.