2007-03-06 09:05:32 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
There is no limit. Multi-ton trucks can stand on ground and sink. No person will ever be heavier than a huge truck.
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2007-03-06 09:09:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The ground is solid, and has a set amount of resistance. Things (like heavy bodies) pushing down on the ground will cause the ground to resist in a equal amount of force, depending on the integrity of the ground. If the ground is quicksand, the integriy will be very low, and the resistance will be almost none. But on solid rock or on bedrock, you may have to be heavier than several cities' weight concentrated at one point (where you stand) to even crack the crust----- In other words, only when you way more than the ground can hold, then you sink.
*note for ALL people: stay out of quicksand. If you find yourself in one, treat it as if it were water. You will find that the "dead man's float" works well, and don't struggle. RELAX. You will float, by dispersing your weight equally in all directions.
2007-03-06 17:20:29 · answer #2 · answered by Aeon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I use the example of a steel fence post driven into the ground I find ~1cm2 area and 15 kg weight at 1 meter/second is enough to cause the post to "sink" into the ground.
The "impulse" energy is 15 kgm2/sec^2
so I'm going to guess at 1500 kg effective weight
If shoes have 1000 cm^2 area, weight needed to "sink" them is 1.5 million kg.
2007-03-06 17:28:35 · answer #3 · answered by bubsir 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not that a human would ever waigh that much but it would depend on the type of ground he was on. black dirt is denser then sand. clay is even denser. you would also have to figure out the area of contact between the person and the ground. on a note catapilar has a 4 wheel dump truck that ways in at over 550 tons fully loaded. it has not sunk into the ground...
2007-03-06 17:17:37 · answer #4 · answered by jedidiaha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot answer it without more information. You need to know the area of contact with the ground. (How big is his foot) and what is the strength of the ground. (Granite vs mud)
2007-03-06 17:16:29 · answer #5 · answered by wbwittmeyer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now, "THINK" first will 'ya!
Heavy equipment and gigantic earth movers roll over the ground constantly and don't sink!
Anything, even "you" will sink in mud, bog, or quick-sand.
2007-03-06 17:17:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's almost like asking as question on how light a person have to be to float on air. You know that's not possible. Good enough, yes?
2007-03-06 17:16:41 · answer #7 · answered by FILO 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋