Folding paper in half more than seven times.

Factual Questions
1

We were discussing this today,
folding a piece of paper in half more than seven times is said to be impossible because the paper reaches a thickness 128 times that of what is normally is, however, I seem to remember a test being done by scientists, metioned here perhaps, where they were able to exceed that supposed limit.

Anyone happen to know, or have the links?

Thanks,

2

I don’t know. You could always try searching the archives of Cecil’s columns, though. Who knows, you might find something useful like this .

3

I almost feel like Cecil, in a way, cheated in that column (please don’t smite me oh mighty Cecil). He wasn’t folding a piece of regular paper but rather a massive dropcloth.

4

I get the impression that the thickness does have to do with it, and all Cecil showed was that thinner sheets reach a “folded” limit sooner. I mean, how easily can you fold an 8.5x11 piece of paper versus the same size piece of cardboard? More folds in the paper, I’ll bet. Now try something thinner, for example, a Kimwipe®.They are pretty thin. I can imagine exceeding the paper by at least one fold.

I know nothing of physics or materials or anything like that, so I can’t begin to suggest WHY this might be, but just that that’s what I’ve observed…

5

Depends on how strong and thin the paper is. Thin paper is usually not all that strong and tear resistant. I have done this experiment with notebook paper and newspaper and both reach a folding limit fairly quickly because of the squaring inherent in the folding process and simply tear if folded one more time - granted I used the help of a vise to make the last fold.

6

It’s not possible to truly fold a piece of paper more than once.

Actually that’s not true, in fact it isn’t possible to truly fold a piece of paper at all.

I probably ought to explain now before the men in white suits arrive; when you attempt to fold two sheets of paper together, the inner one folds* and the outer one bends around the thickness of the inner, folded sheet.

*It is all a question of degree, however, because the inner fold is only a very tight bend, but this is the nature of the problem; when you get up to the seventh fold, you’re tryng to fold what is effectively 64 sheets of paper together; the outer ones simply won’t fold because of the sheer thickness of paper between them - they just bend, the inner ones pucker and pull because the whole thing is constrained at the edges by previous folds.

7

A couple notes…
Jack, there is no need to be condescending when you respond, the area I am posting from has banned my access to the archives (don’t ask me, I don’t know why), but left me access to the forums, it’s why I posted here first, yeesh.
I also agree with some posts, Cecil was using an incredibly thin piece of plastic, note above, I was asking about paper.

So far as I recall Jack, and the boy at the grocery store always notes the difference, paper isn’t plastic.

Mange, way too in depth, but thanks for the information :smiley:

8

Last night, I folded a sheet of paper (newsprint), in half 8 times. After the 8th fold, the result was about 1 1/4 by 1 1/2 inches, and about an inch thick. So there ya’ go.