In the tale of Rapunzel, a beautiful princess (with very, very long hair) is held captive by a witch in a very high tower. When Prince Charming gallops to her rescue, she throws down her hair and he climbs up to the tower.
We have to ask: Can human hair support the weight of another person?
On average one strand of hair can support about 100 grams (or about the weight of two candy bars). Dark hair is usually thicker than blonde locks and therefore stronger. Rapunzel however, is blond. Seeing blondes have about 140,000 hairs on their heads, her hair should easily support the weight of a prince (even a few of them).
The real problem is not that the hair will break, but that it might rip out (Ouch!) Her frail body might not be able to support the weight as well.
Calling on the laws of physics, it would be better for Lady R to tie her hair around something before lowering it. She can then use the friction of the hair against itself in the knot, and whatever it is tied around will support the weight of the prince.
Moral of the story: Physics lives happily ever after…
Source: LiveScience
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