Tikumu’s letter

Press, 29 August 1978, Page 14

Tikumu’s letter

Dear Children, Do you think you could beat four strong people on your own in a tug-of-war? This is not as difficult as it sounds. Find a mop and a broomstick, or two broomsticks, and a long length of rope, and make your challenge these holidays. Before you start, lay down one condition — you shall arrange the rope. This is what you do. Ask your four opponents to stand in pairs and give each pair a broom which they must hold heart-high. See that they stand opposite each other so that the two brooms are parallel

and about 1 metre apart. Next, secure the end of the rope to one broomstick and then wind your rope about six times round and round the two broomsticks and hold the long end yourself. Now ask your opponents to try to pull the broomsticks apart while you attempt to pull them together. On the word '‘Go,” pull your rope. You will be surprised to discover — and so will the other four people — that although you have only given a moderate pull, you have overcome the straining of the two pairs and brought them together. What is the ex* planation? It is simple. When the strands of rope are wound round the two broomsticks six times, the force with which vou pull is multiplied by 12 in its action. The two broomsticks are one metre apart, and when you pulled them together half a metre, six metres of rope passed through your hands I hope you find this tug-of-war fun. Tikumu