Book 10, Question 23
Why Do Sneakers Cushion Landings?
Sneakers cushion landings because they spread out the force when your foot hits the ground! That makes the hit gentler on your ankles, knees, and hips. Worn-out shoes cushion less.
More fun facts
- Some shoe insoles use foam first made for NASA, which molds to each person's foot to absorb shock.
- One scientist found that running in cushioned sneakers encourages people to hit the ground harder than running barefoot.
- Basketball shoes squeak because the sole grips and slips on the court over and over very fast.
- Those grip and slip pulses repeat about 4,800 times per second, making the air vibrate into a squeak.
- The thin felt on the bottom of some sneakers is there to cut import taxes, from 37.5 percent to just 3 percent, because fuzzy soled shoes count as slippers.
Sources: NASA, Scientific American, Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
What does cushioning do?
It squishes on landing, spreading out the shock so less of it goes into your feet and legs.