- #1
kyphysics
- 676
- 437
Over the Thanksgiving holidays, I had a heated argument with my parents in their home (where I reside temporarily too). Out of anger, I physically slammed my arms down on their dinner table extremely hard. I was in a rage (b/c they went out during COVID's surge when we've already lost a family member to it and I warned them not to go out during this time...it was sort of a "love rage" in a desire to protect them) and I think I might have even thought to myself I wanted to break the table in half. Suffice it to say, I was super mad and slammed my arms very, very hard, using my upper body's weight (sort of rising up and then flopping/falling with my upper-body's weight down onto my arms for even more force). I did this about three times (prior to which I also slammed my hands down on it just moderately hard - that was my first reaction, before rage filled me and I went all out).
The table itself is very study, as it's an older style one with metal legs and has metal "bars" underneath it reinforcing the center. It didn't break, but looks like it may have very, very slightly bent a bit (or, it could just be pre-existing - not sure).
Our home was inspected for repairs underneath it and we were told we had some joists, beams, and flooring (although, not in this kitchen table spot) needing repair. So, already, there's been some possible "weakness" in the floor/structure. With me slamming down on the table like that (I am 5'9 and weigh 185 lbs. - fat, not muscle, LOL), could this force have caused a "reverberation" through the flooring and maybe damaged something underneath it? Like could it have caused cracks in the sub-floor or "damage" of some sort (maybe cracks too) in the beams and joists underneath?
The floor in the kitchen itself has no cracks (it's tiled). Maybe the location of where I slammed it (underneath the legs of the table) have a SLIGHT "lower" unevenness to the tiles. But, it's not something you'd notice unless someone pointed it out (and even then it's maybe hard to tell). It could have been uneven beforehand too, as I'm not sure. Basically, there's nothing super noticeable, but maybe a slight "indented lower" feel to some tiled areas (but, again, it could just be my fear/imagination).
From a physics point-of-view, could the force of these slams have be hard enough to "damage" stuff structurally underneath the floors? Or, would my slamming force have "dissipated" throughout the table itself (with the table absorbing the shock and not the floor)? I didn't slam the floor, but rather a study table on top of it. But, it felt SOOO HARD that I thought to myself what if I really damaged the floor/structure of the home.
*I could take pics of the table and tiles if that helps* Just wondering in general if this is a rational/reasonable analysis & fear?
The table itself is very study, as it's an older style one with metal legs and has metal "bars" underneath it reinforcing the center. It didn't break, but looks like it may have very, very slightly bent a bit (or, it could just be pre-existing - not sure).
Our home was inspected for repairs underneath it and we were told we had some joists, beams, and flooring (although, not in this kitchen table spot) needing repair. So, already, there's been some possible "weakness" in the floor/structure. With me slamming down on the table like that (I am 5'9 and weigh 185 lbs. - fat, not muscle, LOL), could this force have caused a "reverberation" through the flooring and maybe damaged something underneath it? Like could it have caused cracks in the sub-floor or "damage" of some sort (maybe cracks too) in the beams and joists underneath?
The floor in the kitchen itself has no cracks (it's tiled). Maybe the location of where I slammed it (underneath the legs of the table) have a SLIGHT "lower" unevenness to the tiles. But, it's not something you'd notice unless someone pointed it out (and even then it's maybe hard to tell). It could have been uneven beforehand too, as I'm not sure. Basically, there's nothing super noticeable, but maybe a slight "indented lower" feel to some tiled areas (but, again, it could just be my fear/imagination).
From a physics point-of-view, could the force of these slams have be hard enough to "damage" stuff structurally underneath the floors? Or, would my slamming force have "dissipated" throughout the table itself (with the table absorbing the shock and not the floor)? I didn't slam the floor, but rather a study table on top of it. But, it felt SOOO HARD that I thought to myself what if I really damaged the floor/structure of the home.
*I could take pics of the table and tiles if that helps* Just wondering in general if this is a rational/reasonable analysis & fear?