person holding a lead brick and a hammer

Code Number: 1F20.20

Demo Title: Smash Your Hand

Condition: Good

Principle: Inertia

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment:

Lead Brick, Large Hammer, Hand or Head.

Procedure:

Place the lead brick on your hand. Hit the brick hard with the hammer. You will be undamaged.

References:

H.T. Hudson, "The Most Obvious Explanation Is Not Always Correct", TPT, Vol. 26, # 1, Jan. 1988, p. 34.
M- 254: "Hammer & Plate", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
Robert Ehrlich, "C.8, Vampire Killer", Turning the World Inside Out, p. 30.

Disclaimer

These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.

Instructional Resources and Lecture Demonstrations

1F20.20 - Smash Your Hand

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