The giants of San Fermin may appear to move effortlessly, but keeping a figure more than four meters tall in balance requires considerable skill and an intuitive understanding of physics. Although some of them weigh around 60 kilograms, the real challenge is not the weight itself, but controlling a tall structure that is constantly in motion. For this reason, carrying and dancing with a giant is more a matter of experience, coordination, and balance than of strength.
foto-gigantes-
superior-3
Aplicaciones anidadas
ciencia-blanco-rojo-cartel-gigantes
ciencia-blanco-rojo-gigantes-texto-2
Learn more:
The main challenge is keeping the center of gravity within the base of support. If the vertical line connecting the center of gravity to the ground falls outside the area supported by the feet, the giant may tip over. To prevent this, the carriers spread their feet to increase stability and bend their knees when they need to slow down or regain balance. They also distribute the weight using different points of support, such as the head, shoulders, hands, and elbows.
When a giant turns, another important physical phenomenon comes into play: angular momentum. Just as with a spinning top or a moving bicycle, rotation generates stability. The more uniform the turn, the more resistant the figure becomes to small disturbances. To start or stop the movement, the carrier must apply force against the ground and generate torque, that is, a rotational force capable of overcoming the inertia of the entire structure.
The tallest giants in Pamplona’s giant troupe, Toko-Toko and Braulia, reach approximately four meters in height when carried. Despite their size, they dance through the streets among the crowds thanks to the skill of the people carrying them from within. Every step, every turn, and every change in speed is the result of a complex combination of biomechanics, balance, and the physics of motion that has been refined over generations.
ciencia-blanco-rojo-gigantes-texto-3
In summary: The giants are very tall and heavy
They must move with balance to avoid falling.
A person carries them from inside
The giants dance during the San Fermín festival.
Aplicaciones anidadas
ciencia-blanco-rojo-audio-gigantes
Audio:
ciencia-blanco-rojo-donde-estamos-gigantes
You can find us at these bus stops:
· Plaza Príncipe de Viana, 4
· C/ Navas de Tolosa - C/ S. Antón
· C/ Padre Moret
· Campus CM Mendaur
