<p>Well, it looks like that per <a href="https://hasbro-new.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/60/~/what-does-the-word-jenga-mean%3F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hasbro</a>, an official Jenga set is made of <em>Alder</em>, which apparently has a density of <a href="http://www.csudh.edu/oliver/chemdata/woods.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">0.38 g/cc</a>, which when combined with the dimensions of a standard Jenga block <a href="https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/8137/are-all-jenga-blocks-of-exactly-same-size">from this answer</a> of 1.5cm x 2.5cm x 7.5cm, gives us an average of <strong>10.6875g</strong> per block for a 28.125cm&sup3; block. </p>

<p>The margin of error on both the density (one site I found had a range from 0.4&ndash;0.7 &times;10&sup3; kg/m&sup3;, or 0.4&ndash;0.7g/cm&sup3;) and the dimensions of the block due to manufacturing tolerances are enough to be considered significant, so I'd add a nice fudge factor to that before running further calculations.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T17:19:36.273Z
0.4-0.7 kg/m3 [is 0.0004-0.0007 grams/cc](https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=0.4kg+per+cubic+metre+in+grams+per+cubic+centimetre). That fudge factor for a 28.125cm³ block is going to be a miniscule one (~0.0011 to ~0.0197 g/cm³). For a tower of 5 layers (15 blocks) that's an estimated maximum 0.2955g difference in weight based on density alone.
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T17:19:55.417Z
Sorry, fixed my unit notation there: it's 0.4-0.7 10^3 kg/m3. That ends up as 0.4-0.7 g/cc, allowing for up to 1.8x the original as a possible value.
David C Ellis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T17:20:54.513Z
I've updated the formatting of your notation slightly. Thanks, that makes more sense out of it.
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T17:23:51.290Z
yeah, if we can get a density of 0.4-0.7 kg/m3 out of something we can use to build Jenga towers, I think the Space Elevator guys want to have a talk about that...
David C Ellis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T17:32:20.817Z
Well that's the density margin of error (from an average density of 0.38g/cm³ or 380kg/m³) rather than the density itself. :)
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T14:45:41.263Z
2017-02-03T17:39:45.183Z
2017-04-13T12:38:50.353Z
David C Ellis
<p>I am attempting a project in which a robot needs to carry 5 layers of Jenga pieces around a course, while following a line and <em>without dropping the stacked blocks</em>. Figuring out the static frictional force needed to move the Jenga blocks off of one another requires certain values. </p>

<p>I already have the coefficient of wood on wood, which is 0.35, but I need <strong>either</strong> the average mass of a Jenga block, or the typical density of the wood used to make Jenga blocks.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T17:46:36.420Z
Can't you just weigh your Jenga blocks? (If you don't have any Jenga blocks, you'll need to get some to test your robot anyway.)
user2357112
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-03T21:39:13.010Z
Quick tip: that formula for friction you learned in school?  It's a lie.  For what you're doing here, it's probably close enough, but don't be surprised if the numbers you get don't match your robot's actual performance.
Mark
<jenga>
What is the mass (or density) of the average Jenga block?
Phippsy
# What is the mass (or density) of the average Jenga block?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-03)

I am attempting a project in which a robot needs to carry 5 layers of Jenga pieces around a course, while following a line and *without dropping the stacked blocks*. Figuring out the static frictional force needed to move the Jenga blocks off of one another requires certain values.

I already have the coefficient of wood on wood, which is 0.35, but I need **either** the average mass of a Jenga block, or the typical density of the wood used to make Jenga blocks.

Thank you in advance!

**Tags:** jenga

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Can't you just weigh your Jenga blocks? (If you don't have any Jenga blocks, you'll need to get some to test your robot anyway.)  
> **username_2**: Quick tip: that formula for friction you learned in school?  It's a lie.  For what you're doing here, it's probably close enough, but don't be surprised if the numbers you get don't match your robot's actual performance.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-02-03. Score: 13

Well, it looks like that per [Hasbro](https://hasbro-new.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/60/~/what-does-the-word-jenga-mean%3F), an official Jenga set is made of *Alder*, which apparently has a density of [0.38 g/cc](http://www.csudh.edu/oliver/chemdata/woods.htm), which when combined with the dimensions of a standard Jenga block [from this answer](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/8137/are-all-jenga-blocks-of-exactly-same-size) of 1.5cm x 2.5cm x 7.5cm, gives us an average of **10.6875g** per block for a 28.125cm³ block.

The margin of error on both the density (one site I found had a range from 0.4–0.7 ×10³ kg/m³, or 0.4–0.7g/cm³) and the dimensions of the block due to manufacturing tolerances are enough to be considered significant, so I'd add a nice fudge factor to that before running further calculations.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 0.4-0.7 kg/m3 [is 0.0004-0.0007 grams/cc](https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=0.4kg+per+cubic+metre+in+grams+per+cubic+centimetre). That fudge factor for a 28.125cm³ block is going to be a miniscule one (~0.0011 to ~0.0197 g/cm³). For a tower of 5 layers (15 blocks) that's an estimated maximum 0.2955g difference in weight based on density alone.  
> **username_3**: Sorry, fixed my unit notation there: it's 0.4-0.7 10^3 kg/m3. That ends up as 0.4-0.7 g/cc, allowing for up to 1.8x the original as a possible value.  
> **username_4**: I've updated the formatting of your notation slightly. Thanks, that makes more sense out of it.  
> **username_3**: yeah, if we can get a density of 0.4-0.7 kg/m3 out of something we can use to build Jenga towers, I think the Space Elevator guys want to have a talk about that...  
> **username_4**: Well that's the density margin of error (from an average density of 0.38g/cm³ or 380kg/m³) rather than the density itself. :)  

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