Lbs/sq inch question.

[bcullman]

OK so today I was listening to NPR and there was a somewhat funny story that went something like this: Since the packers are out of the superbowl running, and the Oscars are looking for alternate locations to hold thier award shows (I don't even know if this is true) Why not hold the oscars at Packer's Stadium?

Silly huh? Well, the story went on - and this was the part where my question comes in: If the field can support a 350lbs player (big guy with pads and gear on), certainly, it can support Nicole Kidman in heels.

Ah! but could it? isnt there like a *lot* of pressure per square inch on pads of High Heel shoes? Anyone able to do the math behind this?

[Agubwa]

Weell, first things first, i doubt Nicole Kidman would dare step on *DIRT* with her precious shoes, they'll set up a stage.

Assuming a 350 lbs football player's foot is 12 inches by 5 inches (estimated), that would be 350 lbs / (12 in*5 in) = 5.83 lbs/in2 (inch squared).

Assuming a 150 lbs (HA, rather let's say 90 lbs, no kidding, let's say 120 lbs) nicole kidman is on a 1/2 in by 1/2 in heel. that would be 120 lbs / (1/2 in * 1/2 in) = 120 lbs / 1/4 in2 = 480 lb / in2

Football player = roughly 6 lb/in2
Nicole Kidman = 480 lb/in2 (@ 120 lbs) (@ 90 lbs, it would be 360 lb/in2)

The funny part is, I'd bet if you told her those figures, she'd freak out and go on a diet, but then tell her that all she needs to do to weigh less is wear different shoes... :grin:

[bcullman]

You are forgetting that a high heel shoes *does* have additional surface area where toes touch the ground.

[ski]

But how much of the lady's weight is distributed to the toe of the shoe instead? Since that has a much larger surface area, it would lower the total psi.

[Davebear]

Originally posted by bcullman
You are forgetting that a high heel shoes *does* have additional surface area where toes touch the ground. Yes, but Agubwa's figures are still reasonably accurate, because all of the woman's weight comes down on the heel when she walks.

Standing still, the lbs/in2 would be less, but that's not the critical figure. Even then, it would be on the order of three times the lbs/in2 of the football player. (Assuming, say, 6 sq. in for the forepart, plus the .25 in2 for the heel, you end up with 19.2 lb/in2.)

And, I can testify, from years in the flooring business, that nothing normally encountered in the home or workplace comes close to matching the destructive power of a woman's high heels. I've seen them puncture soft surfaces, chip stone, and crack ceramic.

[CurtC]

At gentlemen's clubs, they must make the dance floor out of krell metal or something.

[Duckster]

Originally posted by bcullman
OK so today I was listening to NPR and there was a somewhat funny story that went something like this: Since the packers are out of the superbowl running, and the Oscars are looking for alternate locations to hold thier award shows (I don't even know if this is true) Why not hold the oscars at Packer's Stadium? You are forgetting the Kodak Theater (http://www.oscar.com/kodak/kodak01.html) was constructed as the official home of the Oscars.

The Oscars no longer need alternate locations.

Besides, those Hollywood types would never make it in PackerLand. Wisconsin Cheeseheads and Southern California chic just don't mix -- beer bellies and white wine airheads?

:D