Physics Professor Explains How to Break Bricks Without Wringing Your Hands
Few things in life evoke such overwhelming amazement as watching someone break bricks for the first time with their bare hands. I’ve always wondered how a person’s hands don’t break with bricks, and now the physics professor explains why in this video.
“It has to do with the timing of the impact. It’s very fast, ”says Richard Brandt, a former physics professor at New York University. At the moment of impact, the force applied by your hand to the brick creates the same reaction force from the brick to your hand. Your arm is slightly more elastic and can “lift” without breaking. The key is to keep hitting times as short as possible, delivering quick, hard hits with as much force as possible.
However, Brandt’s explanation takes your level of confidence into account. If you hesitate, you slow down and increase the chances of breaking your arm from a failed attempt. This is why breaking bricks takes years of practice and focus, and why most people can start with things like boards of varying thicknesses. Seriously, don’t try to do this unattended if you don’t know what you are doing.
The key to crushing damage without breaking your arms | Business Insider