---
title: 'Sumo Wrestlers vs Phone Books'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=uDVygnvQzLI'
video_id: 'uDVygnvQzLI'
date: 2026-07-28
duration_sec: 66
---

# Sumo Wrestlers vs Phone Books

> Source: [Sumo Wrestlers vs Phone Books](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uDVygnvQzLI)

## Summary

In this video, a presenter challenges two sumo wrestlers to pull apart two interleaved phone books, offering $20,000 prize. Despite their immense strength, the friction between the pages prevents them from separating, demonstrating the power of contact friction.

### Key Points

- **Challenge Presented** [00:02] — Presenter offers $10,000 each to sumo wrestlers if they can pull apart two interleaved phone books.
- **Friction Explanation** [00:16] — Explains that contact friction between interleaved pages makes it nearly impossible to separate.
- **First Attempt** [00:30] — Wrestlers pull with over 200 lb of force but the books don't move.
- **Truck Pull** [00:46] — Wrestlers try with trucks; presenter offers $20,000 and asks for subscription.
- **Final Outcome** [01:00] — Even with trucks, they cannot separate the books; presenter remarks on no new subscribers.

### Conclusion

The demonstration vividly shows how cumulative friction can overcome immense pulling force, making a simple paper-based trick unbeatable by even the strongest humans.

## Transcript

wrestlers. And these are two ordinary phone books. And I'm offering them $10,000 a piece if they can pull them apart. See the catch? I'm going to interlace the pages like this. No glue, no tricks, just paper. Now, I'm pretty
sure my $20,000 is safe thanks to something called contact friction. Because while pulling out a single page requires a tiny bit of force, when you add that up almost a thousand times, that friction adds up real fast. 3 2 1
Now, even though they're pulling with over 200 lb of force, these two little foam books aren't even flinching. Tell you what, boys. Hop in these trucks, and if they get it, I'll still give them $20,000. But you
I'll still give them $20,000. But you have to subscribe. 3 2 1 go. they still don't stand a chance. Woo! And that's how you earn $20,000
and no new subscribers. Huh? Should have thought about that.