• Question: why are bones so easy to break?

    Asked by Daniel to Hussain on 14 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Hussain Jaffery

      Hussain Jaffery answered on 14 Nov 2015:

      This is an interesting one. In fact, not all bones are the same in size or shape and the strength of bones depends on size and shape. For example, it takes only 25 pounds of force to break some small bones in your fingers, but up to 900 pounds of force to break the femur, the largest bone in your body, from top to bottom.

      You also have to consider where the force will be applied on the bone, what’s the size of the force applier, and are there muscles and ligaments and tendons surrounding the bone.

      I think, relatively, bones are quite strong given that the femur only breaks when about 10 times of your body weight is applied to it.

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