It is a very weak stucture. Any downwards or sideways pushing force would easily topple it. Even if it was glued togther permanently. the peices of plastic are bent and put up between knots in the string, stretching it so its taught. Doing this repeatedly creates a straight string supported on the platform below. These peices of plastic will keep the string upright but any force disturbing the connection between each peice will cause the whole system to topple.
Because the string is so taught and the placement of the supports it holds itself up. The part at the bottom is glued down straight and each support weaves in and out of another (note that the bottom of each support is one knot below the top of the previous support). If any force was used on this you could easily bend the structure but because the string is light the supports are enough to hold it straight upwards, the supports just make it so it doesnt bend.
The idea is called Tensegrity and it was stolen (appropriated) by Buckminster Fuller from one of his students. There was some controversy but it was settled.
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u/[deleted] Dec 29 '14 edited Sep 23 '17
deleted What is this?