The tearing of material will help to determine in a general way the kind of fiber as well as the strength of the material.

Cotton material: Cotton material tears easily with a shrill sound. The torn edges are fuzzy and have a tendency to curl.

Wool material: Wool material tears with a dull or muffled sound. The ease with which the cloth tears depends on the weight of the yarn and the weave. If cotton and wool are woven together, the kinds of fibers may often be distinguished along the tear.

Plain silks: Plain silks tear with a rather clean edge and give a shrill sound. If corded, the silk tears with difficulty if at all.

Linen: Linen tears with difficulty, leaving the ends of the broken threads with long straight smooth fibers projecting. If cotton is present in a linen fabric, it may often be distinguished along the torn edges.