August 2, 2019
Ever wonder why it hurts when you step on a LEGO®Brick?
Get to the bottom of why it hurts a whole lot
It turns out, the answer is largely based on, you guessed it, science!
As we celebrate our final weeks with our summer exhibition, Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks, we thought it might be fun to learn more about the LEGO brick and its impeccable ability to wind up on the floor with a magnetic-like draw to the nearest adult-sized foot.
ThisToday I Found Out videoby Simon Whistler does a pretty good job showcasing the science of this common conundrum that just about every parent of young children has experienced at least once. It explains that there are a few key (scientific) reasons it hurts so much when you step on a LEGO brick.
First, feet are super sensitive to pain, largely because there are as many as 200,000 nerve endings located on the sole of the foot. (That’s also why feet are so ticklish.)
Second, the LEGO brick is no joke. While the very first LEGO toys were made from wood, the current LEGO brick is made of plastic and can withstand more than 4,200 newtons of force before it crushes under the pressure. In other words, a single brick can support weights of nearly 1,000 pounds before breaking. So, unless you are the size of an adult polar bear (literally), all the force you exerted on the LEGO brick goes right back to your foot – ouch! The brick’s sharp corners and knobs don’t help matters, either.
Another factor is less about science than it is about math. More than 400 billion bricks have been made since LEGO was first invented. With approximately 7.5 billion people in the world, that equates to enough LEGO bricks for every man, woman and child to each have their fair share. As explained in the video, it would also hurt to step on, say a sharp knife, but you probably have fewer of those in the house and you probably a lot more likely to keep the knives off the floor.
So, ultimately, the reason stepping on a LEGO brick hurts so much is a combination of how sensitive our feet are, how much force they hit the ground with as we walk and the fact that the bricks are made of an extremely strong plastic (not to mention frequently found on the floor).
The Towers of Tomorrow exhibition at Discovery Place features 200,000 loose LEGO bricks (not on the floor!) as well as 20 of the world’s most amazing skyscrapers made to scale out of LEGO bricks.
Time is running out to see this amazing exhibit, which closes September 2.Plan your visittoday!
As a seasoned enthusiast with a profound understanding of the LEGO brick phenomenon, I find it fascinating to delve into the intricate details that make stepping on a LEGO brick such a universally painful experience. The article you provided, dated August 2, 2019, explores the scientific reasons behind this peculiar discomfort, and I'm eager to elucidate the concepts involved.
Let's break down the key components:
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Sensitivity of Feet to Pain: The article rightly points out that the human foot is exceptionally sensitive to pain, attributing this sensitivity to the presence of around 200,000 nerve endings on the sole. This heightened sensitivity is also the reason why feet are ticklish.
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LEGO Brick Material and Strength: The LEGO brick, once crafted from wood in its early iterations, has evolved into a formidable plastic structure. The current LEGO brick is engineered to withstand an impressive 4,200 newtons of force before yielding under pressure. This means that the force exerted by stepping on it is transferred back to the foot, causing considerable discomfort. The article notes that a single brick can support nearly 1,000 pounds before breaking.
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LEGO Brick Design: The sharp corners and knobs on the LEGO brick exacerbate the pain. These elements, designed for interlocking and stability in construction, become acute pressure points when subjected to the weight of a person.
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Quantitative Perspective - Number of LEGO Bricks: The article introduces a mathematical perspective, highlighting that over 400 billion LEGO bricks have been manufactured since the inception of LEGO. With approximately 7.5 billion people on the planet, this equates to enough LEGO bricks for each person to have their fair share. This sheer abundance increases the likelihood of encountering LEGO bricks on the floor, contributing to the frequency of painful encounters.
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Comparison to Other Objects: The article draws a comparison between stepping on a LEGO brick and, for instance, a sharp knife. It emphasizes that while both scenarios would be painful, the prevalence of LEGO bricks in households, coupled with their unique design and strength, makes them more prone to causing discomfort.
In conclusion, the agony of stepping on a LEGO brick emerges from the convergence of foot sensitivity, the robustness of the LEGO brick, its design features, and the sheer abundance of these bricks in our living spaces. This interdisciplinary blend of science, engineering, and mathematics adds an extra layer of intrigue to a seemingly mundane yet universally relatable experience.
