Dr. David Willey, a physics instructor at the University of Pittsburgh who has become famous for debunking extraordinary physical feats through simple physics principles, reveals the secrets to several "magical" feats, including walking barefoot on broken glass.
All in the Preparation
The key to such tricks is all in the preparation. To walk on glass, for example, it's best to use large bottles (preferably Mason jars or containers soaked in water to remove any paper labels) and be sure to smash them flat with a cast iron skillet.
Lying of a Bed of Nails, Dipping Fingers in Molten Lead
He also explains how you can:
- Dip your fingers in molten lead (dip your finger in water first -- the heat from the lead will go into evaporating the water rather than burning your hand)
- Have a concrete block broken on your chest while you lie sandwiched between two beds of nails (the weight of your body is distributed across many nails; the energy of the sledge hammer goes into breaking the block)
- Pick up a piece of orange-hot space tile (the edges of the tile cool more quickly, and provide a small area of contact)
These demonstrations can be dangerous, so do not try them at home.
