Why do ipod cords and electric extension cables tangle so easily?

Question

Thin, plastic coated cords like ipod and electric power cords knot themselves so easily. Why?

Answer 1

Because people do not pay attention while using them or coiling them and instead of keeping the cord untwisted they add twists which cause the cord to loop on itself and tangle. There is a way of coiling rope or wire so that it lays flat on the coil by giving it slight turns while coiling and letting the end free to relieve the twist added, but it also requires that the line be pulled off the coil and given relief the same way. People who put on and take off headphones tend to at twists because of the way they take them on and off (like off and down to the right, on and up to the left which adds to the twist.)

Answer 2

This is in part due to the type of insulation used. Thin insulation doesn't keep its shape very well. You will find that many types of professional audio cable (such as those used by live bands) have very thick rubber insulation that makes it easy to coil, and fairly difficult to pull into a tight knot. But this type of insulation costs more, and adds weight, so they don't put it on consumer goods such as iPod cables.

Answer 3

The reason is one very famous and universally accepted law: The Murphy's law !

It states (and I paraphrase): that when things can go wrong, they definitely will.
And you have just proven it again.

Now that is trully a Universal Law.