The Physics of Breaking Stuff - Slightly-Mad Fu!

Demonstration Material is Dangerously-Stupid, do not try this yourself.
Silly Chop-Socky Physics Demonstration! Technique, Training, Focus, Power. All are important when trying to break boards bare-handed. However, there are also important physics that explain why the boards are broken.
From http://www.slightlymadscience.com
"Slag" courtesy of "A Childs First Funeral" (http://www.myspace.com/achildsfirstfuneral)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• karate
• break
• physics
• funny
• humor
• force
• impulse
• acceleration
• physical
• science
• mad
• chop-socky
• bad
• dubbing
• martial
• arts

[McCoysActionKarate]

My karate skill is spread out over a few decades, and my degrees are all in Physics, and I am old enough to have watched kung fu theater during it's first run. this is AWESOME!!

[TaoOfPooh26]

@McCoysActionKarate Thanks!

[TrowaRF]

As you were staggering to the left (my left, not yours), I heard something break. What was that something?

[TaoOfPooh26]

Glass, and that was an added effect, like most of the silly sound effects in that video.

[killya552]

did u honestly break the boards plz tell me the truth if so can i break boards too?

[TaoOfPooh26]

Yes, I really broke those boards. They were cut to similar dimensions as used in TKD or Karate schools. 8" x 12" x 1" Poplar or white pine, cut so that you are breaking it along the grain. Most schools would use "spacers" (pencils or something between the boards) which makes it much easier to break.  I don't use spacers, because I like the challenge. I seriously don't recommend that you try to break more than ONE board at a time (if at all) unless you have martial arts experience.

[GeneralX]

According to newtons 3rd law yes they do :P

[CsharpGeekComposer]

nice choice of music

[91GOLDEN]

u edda!

[DragonNexus]

Breaking boards isn't actually as hard as people believe.

It's depends on how you orientate them. If you lay them with the grain perpendicular to yourself, it's structually weaker and so will split more easilly. If you lay them with the grain parallel to yourself it's much stronger.

[RZheretic]

awesome :D :D

[GunnarAztek]

LOOOOOL @ 1:38