Our jaws can only bite upwards. So you can’t actually bite down.
The statement that our jaws can only bite upwards and cannot bite down is not entirely accurate. The human jaw is capable of both upward and downward movement, allowing us to close our mouths and exert force in both directions.
When we say “bite down,” we typically mean bringing the upper and lower teeth together, exerting force in a downward direction. This action involves the contraction of various muscles, including the masseter muscles, which are responsible for the closing of the jaw.
However, the bite force generated by the jaw is indeed generally stronger when biting upwards (e.g., chewing tough food) compared to biting downwards. This is due to the anatomical structure of the jaw and the arrangement of the muscles involved.
In summary, while biting upwards may exert more force, the human jaw is indeed capable of both upward and downward biting movements.
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You’re pulling my leg ! Is biting in a direction even a thing ?
To suggest that biting up or down is more or less powerful would (if it was a thing) violate Newton’s Third law.
If the lower teeth are squashing a bit of steak against the upper teeth, the upper and lower teeth must be exerting equal forces .
There IS no upper jaw.. Your upper teeth are embedded in the bottom of your skull. They are just a cleverly designed surface against which your jaw smashes food.
Your jaw can chew upwards or side to side. Nothing chews downwards.
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Mike, I love the thought you put into this! I take my hat off to you sir.
Newton’s third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the context of biting, if the lower teeth are exerting force on a piece of steak against the upper teeth, then the upper teeth are indeed exerting an equal force in the opposite direction onto the lower teeth.
However, it’s important to note that the perception of one direction of biting being more powerful than the other is influenced by various factors such as anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics.
When we bite upwards (closing the jaw), the force exerted by the muscles involved tends to be greater because the masseter muscles, which are the primary muscles responsible for closing the jaw, are larger and more powerful in their downward contraction. This can lead to the perception that biting upwards is more powerful.
On the other hand, when we bite downwards (closing the jaw), the force exerted may be less than biting upwards due to the anatomical arrangement of the jaw and teeth. The upper teeth are typically positioned slightly in front of the lower teeth when the jaw is closed, which can result in a mechanical advantage for biting upwards.
So, while Newton’s third law holds true in the sense that the forces exerted by the upper and lower teeth are equal and opposite, the perceived differences in biting power between biting up and down are influenced by biomechanical factors rather than a violation of Newton’s laws.
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