How much force does it take to break a finger?

Question

Just wondering if they're tougher than we think.

Answer 1

Just bending it, I think it will dislocate before breaking. You would need a sheering or crushing force to break it.

But this is just my guess, looking at the mechanics involved.

Answer 2

i think,

just equal to the forces with which the,bones,tissues,vessels are connected togethar.Since the origin of connection is microscopic(cells),hence,its very difficult to break it.

Answer 3

I have heard when your late with your loan payment they break very easy. Not that I would know.

Answer 4

If I'm reading this table right, the shear strength of a femur bone is 65-71 MPa.  I'll guess that finger bone isn't too much different.  So let's say tau = 70 MPa.

If a finger bone were a circle it's radius would be about 1/4 cm maybe.

So F = tau * pi r^2

= 70 million * pi /400^2 N

= 1400 N

= 140 kg (weight)

So according to my model, which undoubtedly oversimplifies everything and uses wagged numbers, it would take the weight of a very large person to break a finger from just hanging on it.

You should note, though, that a person can exert a much greater force than their weight for a short period of time if the acceleration is greater than g.  So if a 30kg kid stomps on your finger with 5 g's (shearing not just compression), it will snap.  The transverse compressive strength is double the shear strength, so it would take a 60kg kid (big kid, woman, small man) stomping with 5g's compressing your finger on the ground to break it.  And it would take a 280kg man (a little bigger than Andre the Giant) to break it just by laying his entire weight on it.