How Dense is Legolas in Lord of the Rings? (Because Science w/ Kyle Hill)

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Elves have many magical qualities especially in Lord of the Rings, even walking on top of snow, so just how dense would Legolas have to be to do it? Kyle has the elvish science on this week's Because Science!
Special thanks to Tor Books, the proud publisher of Autonomous by Annalee Newitz. Don’t miss the highly anticipated science fiction debut from the founder of io9, available now wherever books are sold.
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Because Science every Thursday.
Artist: Andrew Bowser
Learn more:
• CALCULATING FORCE FOR PUNCHING: nerdi.st/2da6FmO
• SHEAR STRENGTH SNOW 1: bit.ly/2fBGvN0
• SHEAR STRENGTH SNOW 2: bit.ly/2xfmANK
• SHEAR STRENGTH SNOW 3: bit.ly/2w8x8KS
• SHEAR STRENGTH SNOW 4: bit.ly/2xohaiK
• WESTERN SNOW CONFERENCE STUDY: bit.ly/2fbopR5
• FOOT SURFACE AREA: bit.ly/2xwFakh
• DENSITY CALCULATION: bit.ly/2wyK9Sb

[@Nerdist]

*The "Kyle is wrong!" FAQ* 1. Yes, it could also just be magic, you're missing the point! 2. The first density I came up with is well within one order of magnitude of common aerogel density. In case you're wondering. 3. 50 Newtons divided by liters won't give you a density. I first divided those Newtons by the acceleration due to gravity to get the mass, but didn't show that step. Sorry! 4. Based on the studies I used, the ~100cm^2 figure comes from surface area in contact while walking, which is the important part. (www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v25/n11/full/0801785a.html?foxtrotcallback=true#tbl1; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2936827/) 5. I did not include the weight of Legolas' clothes and weapons because he's always wearing them. I'd argue all of his gear has similar properties. (UPDATING) -- KH

[@CSmyth-]

Nerdist If we assume his arrows weigh a normal arrow weight, wouldn't this mean that Legolas could effectively "fly" using the bow equivalent of classic video game rocket jumps? Fire an arrow downward and propel himself up?

[@davisjames8484]

Nerdist Love u bbyz

[@redisk]

The funny part is he'd be blown away by the snowstorm he's walking through

[@InvisiVoid]

Too many errors kyle, I'm starting to consider other science channels :P

[@CSmyth-]

Philipp Nickless Preeeeetty sure the commentor right above you said the exact same thing lol

[@jerekheadrick3379]

Now I'm just picturing Gimli throwing Legolas over the hordes of Sauron and Legolas just flapping his arms really hard.

[@awhochen1563]

Jerek Headrick As Gandalf said,“Fly you fools."

[@MisticHD.]

Jerek Headrick This killed me ;D

[@hanburgundy4317]

Gimli: Nobody tosses a Dwarf! Legolas: That's okay; you can toss me! Weeee!

[@thehackingburger3002]

Hans Ollo Haha!

[@vsGoliath96]

It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's 3000 year old immortal elf prince!

[@thetrickisirarelyrespond5945]

Legit thought this was about how stupid Legolas may or may not be.

[@storm921]

Abbott Is Death Process. 😂😂😂 same here,,,, the jokes on us, we're the dense ones 😂😂

[@mauriciofuentes7638]

Same here. 😄

[@guacca]

Yup

[@afrikan_criola1923]

Me too😂😂😂

[@klarinette8102]

Same. 😂😄

[@HalfAssDevil]

All I want in life now is a cannon scene where Legolas pisses off a dwarf and gets thrown across the room like a paper airplane.

[@DarthTwilight]

Gotta fold him up just right first for the sake of stable aerodynamics. With a body that light, I believe he'd crunch into shape nicely. You'd just need some tape.

[@wanda6376]

Yes.

[@SovietReunionYT]

Bonus points for spelling it "cannon".

[@danielbyrne9007]

Legolas: I need to cross this ravine Gimli: *_YEET_*

[@richardclark6113]

THIS VIDEO STILL ONLY COUNTS AS ONE

[@zachstevens7382]

R C haha lol nice

[@CooleyHigh20]

R C i understood that reference

[@Joosejpr]

Well played

[@iandrewtv]

Additional thought... if his arrows carry enough force to pierce flesh and kill orcs, then they would need to have considerable mass or tremendous velocity (in the movies they appear to move at the velocity of regular arrows). Factoring in this and the weight of his additional equipment (gauntlets, pants, hair gel)... wouldn't a naked Legolas have to be lighter than air to compensate for his equipment? So... naked elves float?

[@sneezypanda8239]

Andrew Yeoh beat me to it......

[@frealms]

Holy shit, elven sex must be intense! "Honey, hold on to the rope! Nooooooo!!!!"

[@nemo344]

Now I want to see bunch of naked floating elves

[@Darkraddish]

whaaaat the heeeeeelll?

[@mawdeeps7691]

they all float you'll float too

[@strawberrymilksamurai]

*reads thumbnail* why would an elf being stupid be needed to be analysed scientifically? And is Legolas really stupid? A couple of seconds later, I realised I was the stupid one

[@hoodie4439]

You got BAMBOZOLED

[@wanda6376]

SAME LMAO

[@512TheWolf512]

If he's super light then the only interesting question is how the bloody hell doesn't he get thrown off the cliff by the wind

[@isawade4854]

Maybe it has something to do with his strength or his clothes could be designed to keep him from getting thrown away at the slightest breeze???

[@laughingskull4362]

Elven magic

[@thebananamonk]

That whole study of how far people sink into snow when walking was made just so Kyle could use it in a video

[@onyx1186]

SCIENCE!!

[@trendane]

You could also have mentioned that, if he were that light, the storm would have blown him away.

[@stevenirizarry1304]

Trendane Sparks the best fantasy scene never made...a fantasy novel needs to use this video

[@teruphoto]

Legolas is even lighter since you forgot to account for the weight of his clothes, bow, arrows and quiver. Side note: since Legolas' punches/strikes are felt by the his enemies in a normal way, that must mean he has super super human strength to compensate for his weight.

[@carsonpaxton9212]

When he shoots two arrows- “That still only counts as one!”

[@dafabulousdude8541]

So... could Legolas Skydive without a parachute?

[@NoManLP]

If he had enough wind and a sturdy glider cape he can go airborn from the ground.

[@Damocles54]

strictly speaking, i think you'd be correct. i heard once that a typical house cat could survive a fall from 30,000 feet because given their mass, their terminal velocity isn't fast enough to due them much if any harm on impact. but, I'd never claim that everything I've ever heard was 100% based in fact. so take it as you will lol

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

Anyone can skydive without a parachute. Once.

[@almostdeadagain]

Damocles54 got a plane and a cat? We could test that.

[@Damocles54]

Almostdeadagain well, i do have a cat, however i might as well not have one. i say this for 2 reasons. the first being that given her status as El Gato Gordo, i think her mass would preclude her from being a "typical" cat. the second reason is that despite my assurances to her that jumping out of an airplane that is in flight is amazing (and i even showed her Point Break) she said she can't be assed to help her servants with anything that wasn't related to her eating or sleeping. also, i don't have a plane. 😕

[@MAMAJUGO]

Then how is he not blown away by the wind?

[@chey6073]

THAT is an amazing mental image

[@miltoska9708]

Or on each arrow that he fires

[@Draelos]

Do an episode on how much energy would be required to create objects out of "thin air" with magic, wizard style.

[@brycejonathan384]

As someone who walks through/on snow for like 7 or so months every year I find that if there are fluctuations in temperature to the point that the top snow melts and then freezes again once the temperature drops. That is the idea condition for walking on snow(I weigh about 150lb if my calculations from kg is right) and I walk over snow all the time. So in ideal snow conditions legolas might be able to walk over the snow while the others would sink in because the top lets say centimeter of ice is going to have a much higher shear strength than just snow. As soon as you overcome the shear strength of the ice your weight will be way to much for the snow underneath and you would fall all the way through which would be why legolas wouldnt make a very large imprint while everyone else sank all the weigh through assuming legolas is only marginally lighter than everyone else. This was a lot of rambling but yeah cool.

[@Kathrynerius]

I'm 300lbs, and walk on snow all the time, too. Sometimes it gets cold enough, where I don't even leave foot prints. Legalos being lighter, and maybe even his stance could help. Standing with feet spread further apart would distribute the load more efficiently. Like for instance, what would be easier to pierce with? A normal parralel two pronged fork, or a two pronged fork with each fork at a 45 degree perpendicular angle to each other?

[@yunthi]

was going to say the same. i remember running across snow like this as a kid without sinking in. as an adult weighing roughly 100 kg (or google tells me its ~220lbs) its rare to find snow being able to carry me but it still happens on occasion.

[@gorisenke]

Bryce Jonathan This is what I thought as well. It would be extremely cold up in those mountains, probably all the time, but sunlight reflecting off from the snow can create quite a bit of heat, so there would probably be a pseudo ice layer on top of the snow pack.

[@thmoow]

Bryce Jonathan temhktkylhlhmhåö

[@awsome1623]

Kyle hair is as long as Legolas hair And it's beautiful

[@JohnnyKronaz]

"Read more"

[@GamerGirl_2000]

Ikr

[@GamerGirl_2000]

Whatever, Fuck Usernames ikr The top should've been Legolas Greenleaf blonde as the bottom is already blonde

[@eruiluvatar1524]

Now that you mention it, it does look like it's as long as Legolas' hair

[@TheTransforcer]

“Throw him like a paper airplane”, so long as you don’t tell the dwarf.

[@ziforyu]

"im not as dense as your elf bois!" got me laughing way too hard XD

[@andronacheremus8839]

if Legolas is that light then he should be very afraid when someone sneezes, cause... science!

[@Altrantis]

Why should be afraid? Sure, it'd knock him off his feet, but falling would have no impact on him. It'd be mildly annoying because it'd interrupt whatever he's doing, but he wouldn't be in pain or anything since he wouldn't go crashing in the destination. it'd be sort of like what happens if you sneeze on a baloon.

[@Nerdist]

How long was the trek to Mordor, really? NEW mini-ep over on my Insta: instagram.com/sci_phile/ -- KH

[@wayneigoe6722]

Nerdist It's only about 20 miles. Rooster Teeth's Miles Luna and Kerry Sharcross did it in real life. They went to the actual place Peter Jackson shot the film at and then walked from where the shire was to the actual mountain that was used for Mt. Doom. They did it in 2013. And they filmed it. It's called "A simple walk to Mordor".

[@Kathrynerius]

I wonder just how dense the snow was in that scene. Take myself for example. I'm 300lbs. I've been able to walk atop snow without even leaving foot prints on occassion. Then again, it gets pretty cold here. (Often around 0 F.) The group weren't particularly dressed for climbing a snowy mountain top, but didn't seem too bothered by it. Then again, living up north, I'm often able to stay outside with nothing but a T-shirt around 32 F (0 C) with little bother. I wonder how cold it was there.

[@metehan365]

How does TimeLords regenerate Doctor Who,and What is Regeneration Energy made of Because Science

[@Harabusa200]

it wasnt Miles. It was Kerry and Chris Demarais.

[@robertfaer4522]

Uh, bud you forgot the clothes and boots he was wearing. If we're talking about such light weights Legolas would weigh even less.

[@RyuChief]

This also explains how he could walk up the broken pieces of the fallen tower in The Hobbit in the final battle. Edit*: Thought I watched the entire video, didn't, but happy to see he mentioned that scene.

[@Quasihamster]

"When your foot presses down into snow, you are overcoming snow's shear strength." -Katniss Everdeen.

[@dustinalecxander8647]

Dats stupid

[@lakshgarg8858]

I have an idea for "Because Science":- Since Wolverine and Deadpool are mutants,and thus don't have normal genes;can we nullify their healing factors by exposing them to certain radiations that could change their genetic makeup?? Or; If a normal human like Scott Lang/Hank Pym could punch with the force of bullet when shrunk in their Ant-Man suits,how much force would a peak human's(like Batman or Bane, without venom) punch will generate??

[@tadah5319]

Rachit Garg wolverine and dead pool are mutants, but exposing to radiation , doesn't necessarily mean there will be a change in the mutants gene(more likely something else would change). The only way to remove it is to isolate it, meaning that the only thing for them to return normal is genetic engineering

[@lakshgarg8858]

Tanvir Miah hmm..... So that means that,under the influence of correct type of radiations, Wolverine and Deadpool can enhance their healing factors??

[@timg375]

Radiation destroys DNA slower than their ability to repair it.

[@yunthi]

im just thinking do their limbs move at the same speed as they do in normal size, or do they move at normal speed which would be superfast in comparison to their size. what i mean is, force is mass times velocity. and if your fist does a punch in say half a second in normal size, the velocity of the mass is much more than if your fist does its full arc in half a second while being 1 cm tall or something. in fact if you move sortof normally relative to your size, the force should be exactly the same as in full size. the area of impact being the exact same ratio smaller as the path your fist takes with the punch.

[@seigeengine]

Not really. Gene damage is random, each cell has it's own genetic material, there are mechanisms to repair damaged genes, and severe damage usually results in cell death. In reality, for radiation to affect them like that, you would have to irradiate their gonads and wait for them to reproduce, and then it might affect their kids, but probably not in the way you want it to.

[@loucasblooth]

The most shocking thing I learned from this is the fact that there is something called the Western Snow Conference. Like it's a conference for people to _discuss_ snow and all it's properties. Whoa! Don't forget your #nerdglasses

[@Nerdist]

There's a scientific conference for just about everything -- KH

[@Altrantis]

So there's a scientific conference for testicles?

[@emilycreamer1307]

There is also and hotdog and sausage council

[@mikewilliamson7433]

Kyle, doodle me like one of your elf boys.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Mike Williamson I laughed more than I should have at that. 😂

[@lenSitlhou]

You the man..

[@XDemonicBeastX9]

Plot twist he can change his density

[@willg4802]

Daermon It was so windy at the top of the mountain that he would not have walked on the snow because he would have been blown off the mountain.

[@gallifreygalleries]

Elves are magical, not sure why this is a complaint.

[@jcdenton1868]

Everyone can change own density, just take a breath ;) However you cannot change your destiny ;)

[@NoManLP]

Amazing episode as always. Also, wouldn't Legolas or any Elf being physically checked by someone cause them to go fucking careening through the sky? Because if legolas is lighter than air, anything that physically hits him and sends him airborne would probably kill him.

[@cameronwise-maas5610]

Well, he'd fly through the air yes, but I doubt that it'd kill him, because when he landed there wouldn't be much force behind that collision. It'd be like batting a balloon - sure, the slightest hit could push it across the room, but it's not going to land with any great force. Needless to say, warfare in middle earth will never be the same when the army of balloon elves descends upon Sauron.

[@malcelinho]

So...Jesus was an elf

[@magicalfungi3206]

makes perfect sense to me...

[@jomaju87]

Hahahahaha

[@SCP.343]

More like a Lich.

[@93Legit]

malacelo Cris Angel (Mind Freak) is also an elf

[@Gray963]

Elf Zombie

[@twilitvigil5066]

Of course, all of this means that Legolas would have been blasted off of the mountain. Or, for that matter, anytime a strong enough light breeze blew by.

[@musashi939]

Jacob Thompson he might have been blown away on a still day just by the force of the sunlight (photons) :-D.

[@jonnya9942]

You guys do a great job with these vids, although all hypothetical, they r always interesting and the science is as sound as it can be. Keep it up

[@Dillsfawn]

"If there is no magic involved", doesn't the mountain scene itself disprove the super light Legolas theory? I mean if he is that light wouldn't the snowy mountain winds from that scene just blow him off the mountain?

[@deeross2170]

Dillsfawn Thank you Dillsfawn. Also what about the weight of all his gear wouldn't that add enough weight to sink him some.

[@trolololololll]

Because magic

[@Dillsfawn]

@Ragna8859 "If there is no magic involved"

[@EmyTheMonkey]

Maybe he also cause no friction at all because elves are so soft ^^

[@carlosvega4795]

That means a soft wind might throw him flying, his own arrows would shoot him back and also would have a ton of problems fighting with a sword...

[@VertigoFree]

Carlos Vega Wind would send him flying. But bows/crossbows don't have blowback i think. From one youtuber Skallagrim i heard they have "blowforward" they pull you forward rather than pull you back. So he will probs go flying after his arrow lol.

[@HuwPewPew]

Extra win points for doing the Legolas hairstyle Kyle, nice attention to details bro.

[@AVikingNerd]

Woooooo! This was my question from ages ago! Thanks for doing a video on it!

[@morallyambiguousnet]

More likely explanation: "Pass Without Trace"

[@Mongward]

He Hunter's Marks everyone.

[@patrickeh696]

No. That doesn't allow for that.

[@sirskinny]

now i'm picturing him walking behind the party like a flower girl

[@AdrianVex]

michael holmes I understood that reference.

[@sirskinny]

hehe, i was hoping someone would, critters unite!

[@seanpeery7780]

Forget throwing the Dwarf, throw the Elf.

[@boomcow8160]

I would have never thought of a relationship between Legolas and Thor before this video, this world is truly fascinating

[@kyleclair41]

Haha I love these videos (and this one was particularly good). Thanks for entertaining me with science, Kyle!

[@rewrose2838]

_"We're all looking at the same thing , how could only your eyes be cheated?"_ Ah ha, ask *Aizen* about that~

[@SSGLeader]

The way you use meters and pascals but still use pounds for weight....

[@Nerdist]

I blame my American education. -- KH

[@lowqualityshitposts8860]

The Eternal american

[@Stef-uy4kh]

And kilograms as well...

[@terryforsdyke306]

I am an English man in my 30s, I think in metric, I was braught up with metric, with 1 exception, my parents and grandparents always used imperial measurements for height and weight of their children and grandchildren. so I know how tall I am in feet and inches (but not in metric), I measure my weight in stones and pounts (14 lb to a stone), other than that I exclusively think and work in metric measurements (but memorised most of the conversion tables as a school child).

[@KindredBrujah]

To be fair, he also used *NEWTONS* for weight, so comparatively I'll let pounds slide.

[@chiasatakahashi2814]

I always enjoy watching you explain stuff xD

[@ThePhantomFeather]

you're getting more and more witty with every episode and I love it

[@TfChronikeur]

Hello Kyle, I have a question.If he is so light why doesn't wind blow him away ? Will it be possible ?

[@howardroark3208]

TF_Chronikeur yeah that's what I was thinking and wouldn't there have to be something to keep him from being more of a fluid than solid ... unless he's an amorphous solid in which case he'd be either brittle or really stretchy I think

[@TfChronikeur]

Can he be a fluid ? I don't know how body works when you're that light x) I'm trying to see legolas as a fluid xD that's weird

[@visoth7791]

What happens to the food he eats? Wouldn't that weigh him down? What about his clothes and weapons? Were those factored in?

[@TfChronikeur]

Kyle said that the clothes and weapons has to be made of some kind of light leather or materials so yeah they were ... kinda and about the food I don't know maybe

[@visoth7791]

The food elves eat is human food, and they drink as well right? Well I'd venture a guess that the average amount of water / food in an elfs body is similar to a humans, which is much more than a few pounds. In fact ~60% of a human's body (assuming its the same for an elf) is water. Water is water, and weighs the same no matter what form it takes. The water in your body would weigh the same as an equal amount outside your body. 1 litre of water is 1 kilogram, and a 72kg body would hold around 44 kilograms of water. This means its physically impossible for a human to be as light as what is estimated Legolas is. The only way to explain this is elf magic. Legolas isn't actually light, he's just levitating over top of the snow.

[@elliottknifton8902]

How fast would the Flash have to go to run across water?

[@thepretzel2]

About 67 MPH. That's if we assume he weighs about 200 lbs.

[@Eromatics]

By far my favorite video with because science (kyle) ever.

[@lfrohling]

Bloody interesting, funny, informative and the ad was artfully done too :)

[@sthJuniorPK]

About halfway through this ep I was waiting for the jumping on falling rocks reference lol. It HAD to be coming. You didn't let me down Kyle!

[@ShiponPlaylists]

I hate how RDJ mispronounced Legolas in Avengers Assemble. How dense is RDJ?

[@jaygon8656]

How? Sounded right to me? Is it cause he accentuated the "loss" at the end of the name?

[@GamerGirl_2000]

Mik C. Nooooo That is how to say Legolas Greenleaf's name Shut up

[@mkw050791]

I watch these for the laughs as much as i do for the science. Kyle, you and the team for this show are treasures.

[@Adzes]

Haha so dense was not referring to brain power,,

[@Dzeroed]

:-O I never noticed the snow thing!!!

[@ryandono5721]

Kyle, do you ever get confused when writing normally and write backwards accidentally?

[@percival5771]

he flips his videos lol

[@Zayats_MW]

He never writes inverted, it's just editing

[@drink15]

Notice he never wear shirts with words or logos.

[@1Rendus]

he does write with both hands in afew vids tho so thats a talent all of its own

[@Tfin]

Yes, he wrote with his left hand just recently, and it was... less than impressive. Well, except that he was writing with his right hand as well....

[@bleedingthroat8665]

Nasty little elves. I hate them. Gollum gollum.

[@jakeeasterday1663]

Sméagol Gollum *we hates

[@hanburgundy4317]

Grammar Nazgul ^

[@jakeeasterday1663]

Hans Ollo You, sir, are awesome.

[@eleksisjohnson9736]

I love how he's not afraid to admit how friggin hot Legolas is lol

[@magooyi]

I just so happen to come across this and honestly this is quality content. I love people figuring out the science behind things in movies/books/fictional worlds. I honestly did a science paper on the physics of the sword fight scene in the Princess Bride last year and people really have to do so much research and find tons of information to figure all of this out. It's really amazing! Also, Legolas being 12 lbs means I can pick him up and carry him. Thats crazy! :P

[@padalan2504]

No, he made himself snow boots and didn't tell the others and then thought that they wanted a challenge, so he didn't mention it.

[@EcksRomana]

So Legolas could make a pair of Icarus wings and actually fly with them.

[@techguypaul]

So much gold in this episode.

[@blaklablfrk]

I think the density of the snow would play a big factor. I remember as a child easily being able to walk along the top of snow, weighing around 100lbs (~45kg). I'm not sure on the weight of an elf but I could see it being entirely feasible that an elf that was larger than me as a child, but with only a slightly higher weight would be able to achieve the same.

[@JackTheBeast88]

but if I recall right from the book, it's not that legolas is light, but his shoes make him light. which is indeed magical :)

[@BvLee]

So, he's wearing snow shoes

[@JackTheBeast88]

yeah...but his are made of some kind of paper (always if I remember correctly)

[@kyomademon453]

JackTheBeast88 leather

[@JackTheBeast88]

as I said, I'm not sure, but I remember there's something about legolas' shoes...

[@JackTheBeast88]

found that: Slowly they moved off, and were soon toiling heavily. In places the snow was breast-high, and often Boromir seemed to be swimming or burrowing with his great arms rather than walking. Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips, and then he turned to the others. `The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf or over snow-an Elf.' With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time, though he had long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow. 'Farewell!' he said to Gandalf. `I go to find the Sun!' Then swift as a runner over firm sand he shot away, and quickly overtaking the toiling men, with a wave of his hand he passed them, and sped into the distance, and vanished round the rocky turn. -The Fellowship of the Ring (The Ring Goes South). it doesn't say it clearly, but it suggest it has something to do with is shoes. I remember the italian translation (the first I read) to even more that way, maybe it was a mistake?

[@benfawefwaeffwaefawfdekk2080]

Great video but doesn't this assume Legolas is naked? (Ooh la la). Shouldn't his clothes weigh down grass and petals, potentially the snow as well?

[@MrLeafeater]

His clothes and gear are also Elvish...they're less dense than Elves.

[@vsGoliath96]

So if his clothes and equipment weigh him down... doesn't that mean a naked elf would have to be lighter than air?

[@MrLeafeater]

Yep. That's why we don't see naked Elves...they blow away on the slightest puff of a breeze.

[@vsGoliath96]

Randall Blyler oh dear, Elven sex must be an interesting affair then

[@MrLeafeater]

Probably happens indoors...or perhaps a series of tethers, made from that fancy rope?

[@markotark]

Like most people from Finland i'm quite used to snow and moving through (or over) it. The thing that comes to mind when i hear Legolas walking over the snow while others sink into it isn't a huge difference in density but slight melting of the top layer of snow in the sun. When this water then freezes, it gives surface of the snow much greater carrying capacity and can sometimes support a bigger person like me with few caveats. You have to step onto the snow with a flat foot, not with heel first and carefully push forward every step. This sort of coordination on top of hardened snow is why Legolas doesn't sink in my mind, not his weight.

[@coastalcordage]

Always interesting and entertaining.....even old Pops enjoys watching these videos.

[@user-vt2kw7ro9w]

Why Legolas can walk on top of snow? Because he is awesome! 😏

[@zacharyirving7943]

But what if the snow had a thick crust? I have sort of walked on snow with a thick crust before, (it only caved in a little).

[@Cora.T]

That would explain his not sinking in, but the others are waist deep in the snow, and since he is the odd one out it's safe to assume his situation is not normal, but having said that, great theory and very plausible if he was alone 👍

[@jjjm7322]

It probably doesn’t since the snow is actively falling and building on itself, so it can’t have a thick crust

[@tawon1984]

So basically he could be the most sneaky tiptoeing ninja ever. He must have Dead Silence pro perk equipped 🤐

[@TheMasterVictory]

tawon1984 have a like my companion

[@luanasuka]

I had forgotten that bridge scene....thanks for that reminder.

[@Melvin-iu2uk]

This actually helped me with my homework Thanks Kyle

[@Nerdist]

Happy to help! -- KH

[@506thLittleberry]

How come the hobbits don't have an easier time walking on snow since their feet are bigger relative to humans? At least in the book they struggled with the snow as much as the humans did. Only Legolas didn't.

[@TiagoTiagoT]

Maybe they're denser than humans?

[@TheDocfri]

TiagoTiago It makes sense since it's harder for them to swim.

[@krulen12]

mrsiCkstar With all those meals hobbits eat, I ain't surprised if their weight is roughly the same as a human

[@Conrad1013]

Nice book recommendation at the end..Neuromancer is still my favourite, so you got my attention.

[@Makkaru112]

Actually the first children of Eru Illuvatar had a special relationship with nature. The books explain it over and over again in the books. Like. Tolkien has 7+plus books !!! ❤️

[@nikosamoiridis2571]

How *T H I C C* is Legolas?

[@noel12397]

Nikos Amoiridis not at all lol

[@Phoboskomboa]

So, if his weight is not much more than one of his arrows, why doesn't he go flying backwards when he shoots? Also, how does he stand in a light breeze?

[@thehackingburger3002]

Phoboskomboa Exactly. Plus there's his clothes and gear to think about, and Elvish or not, they would have to add some weight. Basically, it's all some kind of magical elf stuff. ;p

[@Phoboskomboa]

Yeah, I think of it as similar to in lots of martial arts films the idea that a master swordsman can use a rolled up piece of paper to cut through a steel sword. It's like there's no physical limit on what skill can accomplish in these worlds, and he's stepping so softly that he's not breaking through the snow. Although, I would love to see him fire his bow, and go flying backwards while the arrow stayed still. The thought of the visual is just too funny.

[@microjacket8903]

Phoboskomboa he would go forward, not backwards, bows dont have a blowback

[@Phoboskomboa]

Well, I was thinking the arrow would stay in place and the bow would push back against it, but I guess the bow itself would have mass as well. So yeah, they would just about cancel out, so he'd go forward with the string.

[@microjacket8903]

still be pretty funny though

[@nvwest]

Amazing. One of the best videos on this chanel

[@Nerdist]

I agree -- KH

[@GundamFan85]

Loved this episode.

[@jameskard1593]

Explain the omnitrix, more or less what happens to Ben's clothes when he transforms

[@13KuriMaster]

I think there was some sort of explanation by the creators... like they were broken down by nano machines and re-constructed when he turns back, or something like that.

[@13KuriMaster]

+Jack Sparks I think it may vary depending of the series and the Omnitrix's settings then. Because as Omiverse shows with Rath, the Omnitrix's settings can adjust what happens to the clothes on his aliens...... and apparently how they speak.

[@fatidiot4652]

Im dense. and THICC

[@Filype_DM]

Awesome! Wish you had a video where you explain the power of Legolas' bow has to have to kill that giant elephant in the Return of the king movie

[@minamotoyoshitsune812]

7:58 that scene had me thinking a lot ...

[@MrFazeFaze]

if he's so light, how come he doesn't get blown away by the high speed wind?

[@storm921]

MrFazeFaze mayb super light but uses magic to stick to things like a gecko?? 😂😂

[@mysimpletoon]

i thought it was more of a magic thing than a physics thing.

[@SentientHoodii]

Magic is just science that hasn't been explained. Also his boots change his mass basically, it mentioned in the books how his boots make him lighter.

[@5KAmenshawn]

I've walked around on top of the snow before. Granted, I live in Wisconsin and it was -45f, but it worked as long as I walked slowly and carefully. Even with my combat boots on I rarely left tracks.

[@AllenLendzion]

Of all the times I have watched these movies and this has somehow escaped me. I never noticed him walking ON the snow!

[@AifDaimon]

The video ending tho.. 😂😂😂😂😂 Sorry for spoiling it! I watched this on Nerdist.com first..

[@TimmySquibs]

Hanif Huzairi you didn't spoil it?

[@fistsmcnasty]

Surely his density is even less because of the clothes and armour?

[@themorbiddoll]

This was really fun to watch! However, seeing as Middle-Earth was curved after the fall of Numenor (around there, I think), preventing access to Valinor, but elves can travel the straight path across it, this means magic allows them to ignore the horizon and see far because magic. I bring this up only as a point to reinforce that elves are basically magic infused, and therefore the true reason Legolas can ignore density penalities is because he's an inherent magic creature.

[@larinvermont3271]

Interesting discussion . But I prefer Roger Zelazny's explanations in his novel "The Changing Land" of the qualities which Elven cobblers endow upon the elfboots they create. These properties include not only the ability to walk on top of snow [and still water when the wearer is traveling at the proper velocity, literally like skipping a stone], but also my favorite: the absolute nonslip stability which manages to hold onto any surface absolutely, except when the wearer wishes to move. If it is possible to determine individual Elven density, it should be equally possible to mathematically assess the variable coefficients of friction as well as the surface tension of Elfsoles [and something to aspire to while wall climbing].

[@arbknight12]

Ohhhhhhhh. When the title said “how dense” I thought it meant “how stupid”

[@pokedoctor2087]

He weights even less, because he's also wearing clothes and weapons...

[@landorseasprint]

More questions now! What does this density and mass mean when he fires an arrow?. How heavy are his arrows? Would momentum from firing arrows push him?

[@benmasi2483]

Sometimes in the winter it gets hot enough for the snow to start melting then it freezes again, giving the snow a hard coating which people even around 150~ lbs can walk on without sinking in.

[@OsirisMalkovich]

His feet are only 100 square cm? He's so dainty!

[@Nerdist]

Well, remember that when walking, the entire bottom of your foot isn't touching the ground. -- KH

[@seigeengine]

It is if you're a flat foot like me. ;|

[@JfkNeedsWindWall]

Nerdist it is when wearing flat bottom shoes

[@BiRios]

David Cooper but proper hiking/traveling/hunter shoes shouldn’t have a flat surface on the sole, for grip/stability/and treading purposes.

[@fendelphi]

The entire shoe/foot would still touch snow after sinking about 1 cm down, creating a larger surface.

[@sullir9397]

Wood elf could imply a silvan elf in Middle Earth, which in Legolas's case is technically incorrect. During the age of the Lord of the Rings, there were basically four main elf kingdoms. One ruled by Galadrial, one by Elrond, one by Cirdan and the last by Thandol (the mirkwood kingdom, probably the weakest because Thandol never had a ring of power; Cirdan once had one but was the guy that gave to Gandalf, which is why Gandalf had one (just want to spread the lore and prove just how nerd I am, not quite as big as Steven Cobert, but close)). In each of these kingdoms, whereas in the past ages Silvan, Sindarin and Noldo elves might have had their own separate kingdoms, the three elf types are mixed with Silvan elves being the most common. The elf kingdom in Mirkwood in particular is ruled by a Sindarin family. Legolas's family, meaning Legolas is actually a Sindarin elf though the Mirkwood elves are almost entirely Silvan.

[@sullir9397]

Some of you may have wondered why Galadrial is so significant to the LotR and Hobbit movies, even the wizards deferred to her. The answer is that she is one of a very small number of Noldo elves that were not born in Middle Earth, but actually migrated from the blessed shores of Valinor, which is a huge deal as it the immortal lands from which elves were imbued with immortality. That's right, elves, according to the lore, are immortal and superior physically to both men and dwarves because their origins is not Middle Earth, the mortal realm, but Valinor, the immortal realm. Strange right. Anyway, Galadrial, of the very few elves to have been born in Valinor and survived/remained in Middle Earth is the strongest and most powerful. Elves of her sort have in the past challenged and fought on almost on equal footing with the dark god Morgath, so they are a pretty big deal--more so than the demi-god race that the wizards come from, Sauron being the one exception. So there you have it. Galadrial was the most powerful good aligned being in all of Middle Earth during the War of the Ring, which was why she was so revered, and why that whole exchange where Frodo offered her the ring was so huge.

[@thehackingburger3002]

Sullir Very true! Thanks for the lore lesson! I've been getting into it a lot recently, but it can be confusing at times. I think I heard somewhere that, interestingly, the elves were created to basically guide man and lead him down the righteous "elder paths." Ironic, then, how they can at times seem so full of themselves and self-righteous.

[@TheThegoldenspatula]

Sigh It's Thranduil, not Thandol. And Sindarin elves were "wood-elves", since their kingdom, Doriath, was a forest. Elves didn't originate in Valinor at all. In fact they "awakened" at Cuivienen, a lakeside which is somewhere on the far side of the Sea of Rhun (the east); about as far from Valinor (the west) as you could get. The (original) Elves were bought to Valinor, many ages before the rebellion against the gods by the Numenoreans and the cutting off of Valinor from the world, by the Valar to protect them from Morgoth. Their natural strength, grace and beauty comes from being closely related to the Ainur, or the Tolkien "pantheon" of gods (the Valar) and angelic beings (the Maia). Men, on the other hand, had something Elves did not, which was the ability to die and pass outside the walls of Arda. And you're almost completely wrong regarding Galadriel. She's the mightiest of the Eldar in Middle Earth and probably the second strongest Noldorin elf to ever exist, after Feanor, her uncle, but in no way is she the most powerful servant of good in Middle Earth. Gandalf far exceeds her abilities. FAR exceeds her. The job of a Wizard in Middle-Earth was to advise and prepare the Free Peoples to defeat Sauron, not openly make war on him. If they did, it's likely the entirety of Middle-Earth could be destroyed. Hence, Gandalf was never allowed to demonstrate the true extent of his abilities. He is a Maia (closest approximate, as stated, would be angels) and the Maia quite literally helped shape the Universe, something beyond the capabilities of any elf. The reverence of Galadriel likely stems from her wisdom (off the top of my head, she'd have lived in Middle Earth since the First Age at least and thus, far longer than the Wizards who would naturally therefore, consult her on important matters regarding Middle Earth) and magical capabilities, bolstered by Nenya, the Ring of Adamant.

[@sullir9397]

Sauron was beaten many times by elves, and so were the Wizards' counterparts the Balrogs. Feanor faced off against Morgoth, a god, and Fingon his nephew against Gothmog. Gothmog the lord of the Balrogs, which are maiar same as the wizards, needed the help of another balrog to take down Fingon--two maiar in order to kill one elf, and Gothmog is arguably one of the strongest maiar to have existed. When has a wizard ever done something like that? Gandalf was done in by one balrog, and he even had a ring of power. And don't feed bullcrap that the maiar were so powerful that Middle Earth would have been destroyed by their confrontations if they fully unleashed their power. Wizards might hold to a rule like that but I doubt a balrog would. "OMG!" says the Balrog "this Glorfindel dude is about to kill me--I guess I still have to hold back and let him." anyway, Noldo that were of the same caliber as Feanor, Fingon, Gil-Galad and Galadrial were near godly. And it was only the shenanigans with the rings that made Sauron so powerful that he was a threat to all Middle Earth and far surpassed elves such as they and the rest of the maiar, which is why Galadrial and the rest of the elves couldn't use open war against Sauron. He had the power to beat them at that point. I'm not saying that all the Noldo were stronger than the maiar generally, but some of them were, the source material is pretty clear on this. What source are you pulling from anyway that says Gandalf wasn't allowed to use full force? I think you gave too much to the idea that maiar were demi-gods and didn't picture correctly what that meant, It's a big troupe in Myth, which Tolkien was very familiar with, that some mortals would surpass the angels and come close to challenging the gods. I'm not sure where all the elves come from, I only read the Silmarillion once, but all I meant is that the Noldo migrated to Middle Earth from Valinor, and it was because they had lived, and were born in Valinor--at least the ones who left Valinor to pursue the Silmarils were--that they were so much stronger. My proof of this, Noldo being stronger because they came from Valinor, is that the Silvan elves had never left Middle Earth in the first place, thus they were not nearly as strong. I've forgotten the reason why the Sindar elves ended up being the middle ground, it was something to do with being decedents of the Teleri, otherwise know as the sea elves because they sailed the seas, another group of elves that had completed the Great Journey to Valinor, but later than the first two tribes of elves. I suppose the Sindar are distinguished from the Silvan elves because they made it farther, got to the sea shore, when they had been called by Orome, and they like the high elves valued wisdom over brawn. I can see that you were right that the elves were inherently immortal, had nothing to do with Valinor, which is why you pointed out the whole Men had the gift of being about to pass into the unknown after death part. It's well known that Silvan elves are also called wood elves, just as Sindar are called grey elves and Noldo and all the other elves who have been to Valinor are high elves. I'm beginning to wonder if you are more learned about this stuff after all. I assumed you were at first because of all the fancy names you were throwing down. At least you got Thranduil's name right, which I didn't even after googling it.

[@tecs513]

Sullir According to Tolkien himself, the Wizards are forbidden from using their full strength in Middle Earth. Also, factoring in the fact that the Wizards literally get their strength directly from the Valar, and Eru Iluvatar, the former being God-Like entities, and the latter LITERALLY BEING THE ENTITY THAT created the entity of that universe, I feel safe saying that Gandalf, should he be allowed to use his true powers, is FAR superior to any Elf, even an elf like Galadriel. In regards to your comment about an elf killing a Balrog (I'm using a phone to comment so I'm unable to look at your comment while I'm making mine) you are incorrect to a certain extent. It's true that the elf DID kill that Balrog, but that elf was heavily outmatched and only managed to kill the Balrog by drowning it in the holy fountain in the Lost City (whose name I currently forget)

[@Parhelion2]

Hey Smart Boy Kyle, Maybe do the scene where Frodo almost gets impaled by the troll. How tough is mithril? Love the show.

[@zichithefox4781]

Throw Legolas like a paper airplane XDDDD I can't be the only one who found that absolutely hysterical.

[@StormyStories]

So, I'm gonna assume it's some magic. because he would blow way the fuck off that mountain, in that storm, if he was really that light^_^

[@-undecided-1663]

8:47 NOT AS DENSE AS THE ELVES????? if you got thrown would you go into space?

[@IronGloochIMAX3D]

Now it makes sense how he can do all the jumps and maneuvers with that density

[@MaskedGEEK]

Your videos crack me up. But going with the lore it helps explain how he can ride an Uruk shield down some stairs at Helms Deep, and how he can ride an oliphant's trunk down to the ground after he's killed it, even though that still only counts as one.