Surviving Explosions: Land vs Water

🌊The chances of survival are higher in water due to the drag force and limited travel distance of bullets.

💣Explosions in water pose a greater risk due to the incompressibility of water and the impact on air cavities in the body.

🎈Experiments with water-filled balloons show the potential damage to air cavities in the body during underwater explosions.

🏊‍♂️Jumping into a pool during an explosion reduces the risk of injury from grenade fragments.

👩‍🔬Scientific experiments and observations provide valuable insights into survival strategies during explosions.

What is the best strategy for surviving an explosion?

—The best strategy is to get as far away as possible from the explosion and hit the deck with your feet facing towards the grenade, minimizing the target area for grenade fragments to hit.

Do bullets travel far in water?

—Bullets do not travel far in water due to the high drag force, causing them to disintegrate after a few feet.

What happens to air cavities in the body during underwater explosions?

—During underwater explosions, the incompressible water transmits the blast wave through the body, causing relative motion between the water and the compressible air cavities. This can result in permanent damage.

Why is the waffle pattern present in grenades?

—The waffle pattern creates weak points in the grenade shell, ensuring that it breaks at those points first. This design allows for an explosion that shoots fragments in all directions, increasing its lethality in warfare.

What kind of experiments were conducted to determine survivability?

—Experiments using water-filled balloons were conducted to mimic the human body, which is mostly water with pockets of air. The balloons were subjected to identical explosions in both air and water to study the effects.

00:00The video starts with an introduction to the experiments being conducted with live grenades and liquid nitrogen.

02:10A detailed explanation of how grenades work and the importance of the waffle pattern in their design is provided.

04:24The differences between survivability on land and in water are explored, with mathematical calculations and scientific explanations.

01:02An experiment using water-filled balloons to mimic the human body is conducted, demonstrating the effects of explosions in air and water.

03:59The devastating effects of an explosion in water are shown through real-life footage.

04:17The video concludes with a reminder of the experiment results and a thank you to the Backyard Scientist.