Cow Tipping Defies Practical Physics

Cow tipping, the supposed prank of sneaking up on a standing cow and pushing it over, is widely considered an urban legend. Cows lie down for deep sleep, remain alert while standing, weigh more than 450 kilograms, and can brace their legs or simply move away. A 2005 analysis estimated that at least four to six people would need to generate the required force against a non-reacting cow, while another calculation raised the number to between 10 and 14 people. Researchers concluded that a real attempt would probably fail once the cow noticed what was happening and resisted.

Previous Fact Next Fact