Superheroes love to make an entrance. Whether they are flying or falling, that entrance frequently involves crashing down, knee and fist-first, in a stance that is undeniably cool, especially in slow-motion. But if you are not a super-powered individual, you should never break out a landing like this. It’s almost perfectly designed to break you.
In my latest episode of Because Science, I’m breaking down the physics of the superhero landing. The crucial difference between this landing and a “normal” landing is the time it takes for your body to stop. While the superhero landing arrests your body’s momentum almost instantly, a normal landing—bending your knees and back on impact—takes significantly longer. And because of the science involved, this increased time to stop means a smaller force.
Landing like a superhero actually puts enough force on your legs to shatter the strongest bone in your body. It only gets worse from there, but you’ll have to watch my latest episode to find out why!
After you watch the new episode, check out my last video on how to slice bullet like Deadpool, buy a Because Science shirt, mug, hat, or collectible pin, and follow me on Twitter or on Instagram to give me a suggestion for the next episode. Want Because Science days before anyone else? Subscribe to Alpha for early access to the show and peep my premium show The S.P.A.A.C.E. Program!
