Stress on the Shin Bone. Compressive strength of our bones is important in everyday life. Young's modulus for bone is about 1.4 X 10 l0 Pa. Bone can take only about a 1.0% change in its length before fracturing.
(a) What is the maximum force that can be applied to a bone whose minimum cross-sectional area is 3.0 cm2? (This is approximately the cross-sectional area of a tibia, or shin bone, at its narrowest point)
(b) Estimate the maximum height from which a 70-kg man could jump and not fracture the tibia. Take the time between when he first touches the floor and when he has stopped to be 0.030 s, and assume that the stress is distributed equally between his legs.