Chapter 1
Clutch power and friction
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Chapter 2
The magic of ABS plastic
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Chapter 3
Extreme precision engineering
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Chapter 4
Structural limits and giant builds
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The physics of Lego bricks
Ch 1 · Clutch power and friction
lego Snap plastic bricks together to discover how friction and elasticity keep them locked forever.
lego The iconic click sound is a burst of acoustic energy released when the plastic snaps into place.
Fun Fact
Clutch power: Lego bricks require about 3 to 5 Newtons of force to pull apart, meaning a single brick can support hundreds of times its own weight.
lego Friction between the smooth ABS plastic surfaces prevents the bricks from sliding apart.
Glossary
friction (noun)
The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another. In 1958, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen patented the interlocking tube system to harness this force between plastic bricks.
The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another. In 1958, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen patented the interlocking tube system to harness this force between plastic bricks.
Quiz
Approximately how many Newtons of force are required to separate a standard Lego brick?