Post by Mr. Jon Donnis on Jan 4, 2011 17:58:36 GMT
Originally Published on the BadPsychics.co.uk website 2007/12/13
By Jon Donnis
I am sure you have all heard of Firewalking, for those that haven't firewalking is the activity of walking on hot coals, rocks or cinders. The trick is that you do not burn your feet.
Many cultures use firewalking as part of their beliefs, India is such a culture. Often this ability to walk unharmed on hot coals etc is believed to be part of the mystical powers of the fakirs.
Here you will find out the truth about firewalking, the science behind how it works. I have included videos from Richard Wiseman, and a new video from Michael Shermer (13th December 07)
These days in the USA and the UK firewalking is increasingly being used by New Agers as part of a self-empowering motivational activity.
Many spiritualists believe that they are creating some kind of magical shield around them which protects them from getting burned.
Ok so now its science time.
The real reason why you dont get burnt is to do with the heat capacity of the coals and the amount of time you stay in contact with them. Even if the coals are very hot (over 1000 degrees) a person with normal feet wont get burnt as long as they walk with a constant pace across the coals.
Remember when you were at school in chemistry class, you could put your hand through the bunsen burner flame and it wouldn't burn you. As long as you kept your hand moving in and out of the flame.
Notice how firewalkers always use wood and charcoals, this is because they are good thermal insulators, and the ash left is simply a poor conductor of heat. You would need to be in contact with this for an extended period of time to actually get burnt, as opposed to the half a second taken while walking over it.
Ask them to walk on a heated piece of sheet metal, and they wont get far, trust me!
Now people do still get burnt on hot coals, and this is nothing to do with will power, or magical shields, it is purely to do with science.
An average person cannot walk more than about 20 feet on hot coals without burning, despite the claims of New Agers. They would have you believe they could litterally walk for miles on hot coals if their faith is strong enough.
Well who better to explain and debunk firewalking than friend to the site Richard Wiseman.
Here he is a few years ago on a TV show called "Psychic Secrets Revealed"
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3127175426821457459#
Here is another short video explaining how firewalking is achieved.
So there you have it, the truth behind firewalking, as well as a few people getting burnt.
Next time someone tell you that firewalking is magical, or about will power, tell them the truth, tell them it's all science.
And if you ever try it yourself, DONT BURN YOURSELF!
Still not sure? Well check out this video by Michael Shermer as he tries his hand at firewalking barefoot across 1000-degree red hot coals and doesn't get burned. Dr. Shermer provides a scientific explanation for the mysterious phenomenon
By Jon Donnis
I am sure you have all heard of Firewalking, for those that haven't firewalking is the activity of walking on hot coals, rocks or cinders. The trick is that you do not burn your feet.
Many cultures use firewalking as part of their beliefs, India is such a culture. Often this ability to walk unharmed on hot coals etc is believed to be part of the mystical powers of the fakirs.
Here you will find out the truth about firewalking, the science behind how it works. I have included videos from Richard Wiseman, and a new video from Michael Shermer (13th December 07)
These days in the USA and the UK firewalking is increasingly being used by New Agers as part of a self-empowering motivational activity.
Many spiritualists believe that they are creating some kind of magical shield around them which protects them from getting burned.
Ok so now its science time.
The real reason why you dont get burnt is to do with the heat capacity of the coals and the amount of time you stay in contact with them. Even if the coals are very hot (over 1000 degrees) a person with normal feet wont get burnt as long as they walk with a constant pace across the coals.
Remember when you were at school in chemistry class, you could put your hand through the bunsen burner flame and it wouldn't burn you. As long as you kept your hand moving in and out of the flame.
Notice how firewalkers always use wood and charcoals, this is because they are good thermal insulators, and the ash left is simply a poor conductor of heat. You would need to be in contact with this for an extended period of time to actually get burnt, as opposed to the half a second taken while walking over it.
Ask them to walk on a heated piece of sheet metal, and they wont get far, trust me!
Now people do still get burnt on hot coals, and this is nothing to do with will power, or magical shields, it is purely to do with science.
An average person cannot walk more than about 20 feet on hot coals without burning, despite the claims of New Agers. They would have you believe they could litterally walk for miles on hot coals if their faith is strong enough.
Well who better to explain and debunk firewalking than friend to the site Richard Wiseman.
Here he is a few years ago on a TV show called "Psychic Secrets Revealed"
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3127175426821457459#
Here is another short video explaining how firewalking is achieved.
So there you have it, the truth behind firewalking, as well as a few people getting burnt.
Next time someone tell you that firewalking is magical, or about will power, tell them the truth, tell them it's all science.
And if you ever try it yourself, DONT BURN YOURSELF!
Still not sure? Well check out this video by Michael Shermer as he tries his hand at firewalking barefoot across 1000-degree red hot coals and doesn't get burned. Dr. Shermer provides a scientific explanation for the mysterious phenomenon
