On Twitter, a video has reappeared showing a man who appears to be able to stick his palm in hot metal without getting hurt.
The man is seen placing himself next to a stream of liquid metal in the video, which has perplexed netizens. He then takes off his protective gloves and hits the liquid metal twice with his bare hands.
Surprisingly, he is undamaged, and he proudly displays his unharmed hand. Many people assumed the video was bogus or heavily altered when it went viral. But it turns out that everything is true. So, how does he do it without burning his hands or causing severe burns to himself? The Leidenfrost effect is most likely a cause for the stunt.
The video shared by Science Girl on Twitter with the explanation, ”A really dramatic example of the Leidenfrost effect the moisture on his skin boils instantly, forming a layer of steam that insulates for a very short time, a temporary barrier between this person and the molten metal.”
Here is the link to the viral video:
A really dramatic example of the Leidenfrost effect
the moisture on his skin boils instantly, forming a layer of steam that insulates for a very short time, a temporary barrier between this person and the molten metal pic.twitter.com/USwGCRlj5Q
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) March 29, 2022
Reactions on Twitter
Elon Musk also commented on the video and wrote, ‘Don’t try this at home,” there are more responses given below:
Or he understands science and has the courage to trust that it would work. Actually great to see someone knowledgeable enough to demonstrate such things to people. If only everyone had this much knowledge about their craft.
— Robbie Casper (@RobbieCasper8) March 30, 2022
It's a far more dramatic version of waving your finger/hand through a candle flame. I've done the candle flame many times, but I won't be trying the molten metal – far higher heat capacity in the metal (& your hot coffee) than the flame!
— Brendan Burwood (@BrendanBurwood) March 29, 2022
Ever try hot potatoe with a red hot coal. You can throw it and pick it up no problem as long as you do it quickly. Seems like the same thing happening here. Red hot coal or super heated rock can be touched no problem…
— Robbie Casper (@RobbieCasper8) March 30, 2022
A really dramatic example of the Leidenfrost effect
the moisture on his skin boils instantly, forming a layer of steam that insulates for a very short time, a temporary barrier between this person and the molten metal pic.twitter.com/USwGCRlj5Q
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) March 29, 2022
You will notice he is wearing an insulating glove on the hand that is in continuous contact with the hot metal trough. As a metallurgist, I can tell you I never had the desire to try this.
— See Ya (@FreetPeople) March 29, 2022
What is the Leidenfrost Effect, and how does it work?
The man used a phenomenon known as the Leidenfrost Effect to pull off the act. The Leidenfrost effect is what causes water droplets to dance around on a very hot stove instead of evaporating immediately. The contact between the hot metal and the man’s hand causes water to rapidly evaporate off the surface of his skin, creating a forceful but ephemeral cloud of water vapour that protects the man’s hand.
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