This is the same way table salt dissolves in water due the weakening of the electrostatic attraction between the positively and negatively charged ions. Once dipped in water, the water molecules can easily flow into the spaces between the fibres, weakening the cohesive force between them and making them susceptible to easy tearing.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Why is it easier to tear wet paper than dry paper?
Tearing a paper involves overcoming the cohesive force between the cellulose fibres by which the paper is made up of . In the case of dry paper this force is high and hence tearing it is not very easy. However, the cohesive force becomes weakened in the presence of water.
