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| {{Short description|Large piece of wood with nails pointing upwards from it}} | |||
| {{Other uses}} | {{Other uses}} | ||
| {{stack| | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] |
] in Brazil]] | ||
| ⚫ | ]'s 1907 photograph of "a fakir in Benares" (], ])]] | ||
| ⚫ | A '''bed of nails''' is an ] piece of wood, the size of a bed, with ] pointing upwards out of it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phun.physics.virginia.edu/demos/nail_bed.html |title=Phun Physics – Demonstrations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927225358/http://phun.physics.virginia.edu/demos/nail_bed.html |publisher=Phun.physics.virginia.edu |archive-date=2018-09-27}}</ref> While it appears at first glance that anyone lying on such a "bed" would be injured by the nails, if the nails are numerous enough, the weight is distributed among them so that the pressure exerted by each nail is not enough to puncture the person's ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilson |first=Tracy V. |url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/circus-arts/bed-of-nails.htm |title=HowStuffWorks "Lying on a Bed of Nails" |publisher=Entertainment.howstuffworks.com |date=2007-06-26}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| }} | |||
| ⚫ | A '''bed of nails''' is an ] piece of wood, the size of a bed, with ] pointing upwards out of it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phun.physics.virginia.edu/demos/nail_bed.html |title=Phun Physics |
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| ==Uses== | ==Uses== | ||
| ]"]] | |||
| ⚫ | One use of such a device is for ] or physics demonstrations. A famous example requires a volunteer to lie on a bed of several thousand nails, with a board on top of him. ]s are placed on the board and then smashed with a ]. Despite the seemingly unavoidable force, the volunteer is not harmed: the force from the blow is spread among the thousands of nails, resulting in reduced pressure;<ref>{{cite web|url= |
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| ⚫ | One use of such a device is for ] or physics demonstrations. For example, the bed of nails was used in ] in the United States, as well as in ]s of circuses and carnivals.<ref name="nickell">{{Cite book |last=Nickell |first=Joe |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/65377460 |title=Secrets of the sideshows |date=2005 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=0-8131-7179-2 |location=Lexington, Ky. |oclc=65377460|author-link=Joe Nickell}}</ref>{{rp|246}} A famous example requires a volunteer to lie on a bed of several thousand nails, with a board on top of him. ]s are placed on the board and then smashed with a ]. Despite the seemingly unavoidable force, the volunteer is not harmed: the force from the blow is spread among the thousands of nails, resulting in reduced pressure;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.physics.ucla.edu/demoweb/demomanual/mechanics/first_law_inertia/bed_of_nails.html |title=Bed of Nails |publisher=Instructional Research Lab: ] physics |access-date=2024-08-23 |work=Lecture Demonstration Manual}}</ref> the breaking of the blocks also dissipates much of the energy from the hammer. This demonstration of the principles of weight distribution requires that the weight of the volunteer be spread over as many nails as possible. The most dangerous part is the moment of lying down or getting up, when one's weight may briefly be supported on only a few nails. Some "beds" have rails mounted at the sides to help users lie down and get up safely. | ||
| The bed of nails is used by some for ], particularly in Asia, and for certain alleged health benefits, such as back pain relief, see ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedofnails.org/About-Bed-of-Nails/default.aspx |title=About Bed of Nails |publisher=Bedofnails.org |date=}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | ]'s 1907 photograph of "a fakir in Benares" (], ])]] | ||
| ⚫ | Less traditional settings, such as science centers, may use an electronic retractable bed of nails, where the user lies on a flat plastic bed with holes in it, and can then activate the machine to have nails rise up all at once. The nails should retract before getting off the bed. This retraction eliminates the most dangerous part of a traditional bed of nails, getting on and off the bed. | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ==Guinness World Records== | |||
| '<nowiki/>'''Most motorcycles driven over the body while lying on a bed of nails'''' - was achieved by Simone Calati (Italy) on 12 May 2013 when he had 31 motorbikes driven over him in two minutes while lying on a bed of nails.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-motorbikes-driven-over-the-body-whilst-laying-in-2-minutes |title=Most motorcycles driven over the body while laying on a bed of nails (two minutes) |publisher=Guinness World Records |date=2015-10-26 |accessdate=2016-12-08}}</ref> | |||
| ''''Heaviest concrete block break on a bed of nails'''' - was achieved by Neal Hardy (Australia) on 12 February 2012 when he had 15 blocks weighing 774.99 kg (1708 lb 8 oz) placed on his chest and broken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/heaviest-concrete-block-break-on-a-bed-of-nails |title=Heaviest concrete block break on a bed of nails (male) |publisher=Guinness World Records |date=2012-02-12 |accessdate=2016-12-08}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | Less traditional settings, such as science centers, may use an electronic retractable bed of nails, where the user lies on a flat plastic bed with holes in it, and can then activate the machine to have nails rise up all at once. The nails should retract before getting off the bed. This retraction eliminates the most dangerous part of a traditional bed of nails, getting on and off the bed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bainbridge |first=Abby |date=2018-06-30 |title=Nailed It! |url=https://wonderlab.org/nailed-it/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| ''''The most melons chopped in half on somebody’s stomach (with a samurai sword while they lay on a bed of nails)'''' - was achieved by ] (UK) on 13 October 2013 when he chopped 10 watermelons in half on the stomach of his assistant in 30 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/blogs/scene-heard/alternative-performer-johnny-strange-coming-to-cirque-le-soir |title=Alternative performer Johnny Strange coming to Cirque le Soir | The National |publisher=Thenational.ae |date=2015-02-18 |accessdate=2016-12-08}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| ''''Most-layered bed of nails sandwich'''' - was achieved by Vispi and his Team (all India) on 23 February 2011 when they performed a five-layer bed of nails sandwich.<ref>{{YouTube|QfdBwkOxCe4|Most layered bed of nails sandwich - Guinness World Records Classics}}</ref> | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Bed Of Nails}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Bed Of Nails}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 03:52, 23 August 2024
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A bed of nails is an oblong piece of wood, the size of a bed, with nails pointing upwards out of it. While it appears at first glance that anyone lying on such a "bed" would be injured by the nails, if the nails are numerous enough, the weight is distributed among them so that the pressure exerted by each nail is not enough to puncture the person's skin.
Uses
One use of such a device is for magic tricks or physics demonstrations. For example, the bed of nails was used in vaudeville in the United States, as well as in sideshows of circuses and carnivals. A famous example requires a volunteer to lie on a bed of several thousand nails, with a board on top of him. Cinder blocks are placed on the board and then smashed with a sledgehammer. Despite the seemingly unavoidable force, the volunteer is not harmed: the force from the blow is spread among the thousands of nails, resulting in reduced pressure; the breaking of the blocks also dissipates much of the energy from the hammer. This demonstration of the principles of weight distribution requires that the weight of the volunteer be spread over as many nails as possible. The most dangerous part is the moment of lying down or getting up, when one's weight may briefly be supported on only a few nails. Some "beds" have rails mounted at the sides to help users lie down and get up safely.
Less traditional settings, such as science centers, may use an electronic retractable bed of nails, where the user lies on a flat plastic bed with holes in it, and can then activate the machine to have nails rise up all at once. The nails should retract before getting off the bed. This retraction eliminates the most dangerous part of a traditional bed of nails, getting on and off the bed.
See also
References
- "Phun Physics – Demonstrations". Phun.physics.virginia.edu. Archived from the original on 2018-09-27.
- Wilson, Tracy V. (2007-06-26). "HowStuffWorks "Lying on a Bed of Nails"". Entertainment.howstuffworks.com.
- Nickell, Joe (2005). Secrets of the sideshows. Lexington, Ky.: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-7179-2. OCLC 65377460.
- "Bed of Nails". Lecture Demonstration Manual. Instructional Research Lab: UCLA physics. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
- Bainbridge, Abby (2018-06-30). "Nailed It!". WonderLab. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
External links
- The bed of nails in use as a school physics demonstration. Darylscience.com