How comes I have to untangle my headphones everytime I put them away? How do they get knotted?

Answer 1

The answer to this is actually pretty simple - and it applies to the Christmas lights, too.

The cable (or wire) that the signal passes through is formed of multiple strands of much finer conductor, twisted to form a (relatively) uniform outer surface to which the insulating jacket is bound.

Over time, you'll tend to pull the cord into longer and longer lengths ... with one of two results. Either the twist gets tighter (and the cord appears slightly thinner), or the twist gets looser.

In either instance, the "memory" of the wire will want to try and return it to its initial configuration (including tightness of twist). Once the stress is off the conductor, back it goes! And probably snarls itself in the occurrence, because you've tried to pack it away in the EXTENDED configuration.

Knotting is another phenomenon entirely. In this case, relative motion of the gathered conductor bundle tends to "slip" one loop against the next. In the extreme, what used to be the outside loop becomes the inside loop ... and you have a potential knot. Unknowingly, you reach in and grab the "new" inside loop and pull ... thereby completing the slippage and you now definitely have a knot!

Answer 2

We've wondered that, too. Alternate example: every year, we *carefully* fold and *carefully* bind the Christmas light strings in neat lengths in a box for next year. Carefully, I say. Sure enough, next year, they are tangled. We call it, "mating". They love each other. (And the peanut butter and jelly side always lands face down...)

Answer 3

Maybe when you put them away, they get all bunched up and start to tangle, and if go in the place where you put your head phones , then it could also get tangled by going through it.

Answer 4

the headphone pixies that live under your bed tangle them up when you fall asleep :-)