Creating pyramids from people standing on top of each other is a fun gymnastic challenge that is also a cultural spectacle in various parts of the world. In this video, Roger Leyser from the University of Leicester, UK, approaches the challenge from a physics perspective by calculating the maximum number of layers in such a structure. He addresses the limited case in which each person in the human pyramid is balancing on both of their arms and legs. So what’s the answer? Watch the video to find out.
This is one of a collection of videos based on student projects from the University of Leicester’s “Physics Special Topics” course, in which students use their physics knowledge to define and answer a quirky or unusual research question. The videos are part of our 100 Second Science series.
