Is spaghetti stronger in tension or compression?

Here's why:

* Compression: When compressed, the individual strands of spaghetti are forced together, creating a more solid and rigid structure. The structure is able to distribute the applied force across a larger area.

* Tension: When subjected to tension, the spaghetti strands are pulled apart. The individual strands are relatively weak, and the structure is easily broken as the force is concentrated on a smaller area.

This is why:

* You can easily crush a piece of spaghetti between your fingers (compression).

* However, you'll have a hard time pulling a piece of spaghetti apart without it breaking (tension).

Fun Fact: The phenomenon of spaghetti's strength in compression is actually a subject of scientific study. Researchers have found that the buckling behavior of spaghetti under compression is quite complex and fascinating.