Indiana Jones and nuking the fridge survival

mauricem

Missed some zeros. Thanks MechEngineer.

wizwom

The initial acceleration figure you are giving is assuming all the force is a single jerk. Fluid mechanics (which is the force exerted on the fridge) don't work that way.

During the passing of the blast wave, the fridge would lift due to surface effects, and until it lifted, the fridge likely tip, since one could assume its friction force would easily overcome skidding. Once it lifts, it would have sail effects propel it horizontally.

The fridge, due to aerodynamic effects, would present is smallest surface to the direction of travel, so it would end up horizontal.

On the landing, the horizontal velocity would not be counted; the vertical speed (mostly from the aerodynamic surface lift while the fridge was still on the ground) would be the force there.

At no time in all of this would there be great forces; hitting the ground would be like a fall from the fridge's maximum height.

DaveC426913

It's a solid, compact, and very dense (lead-lined and filled with a human) object. Sail effects are not sufficient to explain its movement.

That is not how aerodynamic effects work. End-on is unstable. It will actually tend to present its broadest side to the direction force.

Anyone who has tried to handle a canoe in a stiff wind knows this. It takes work to keep a canoe pointed into the wind.

wizwom

The canoe in the wind is a differential fluid mechanics problem, another bird entirely.

The mass to area consideration is only important in determining the acceleration, not in determining the force. The only forces that a fluid can exert on a body are sail forces and differential pressure forces.

mauricem

Thanks for everyone's advice and help. I'll summarize what I need to change from the last post based on feedback.

Indy is accelerated by the blast and then follow a projectile trajectory. For most of the flight he is weightless. (Thanks Mech Engineer)

He's traveling at terminal speed of the blast wave, close to 150-200 mi/hr (70-90 m/s). (Thanks Mech Engineer)

He hits the ground like hitting a brick wall at 100 mi/hr (Thanks Mech Engineer). I've found several reports of people surviving 100 mph crashes into walls. Some even had minor injuries without seat belts, so it's possible for him to survive it. Admittedly, a car is a lot safer than a lead box, but it's possible.

The plume height would rise to a final height of 30,000 ft (Thanks Mech Engineer).

The area around Indiana as he gets out of the fridge is 93 F (highest temperature of Nye County Nevada). Radiation from the explosion ends within seconds (as the pure explosion plasma extends and covered by the much colder mushroom cloud). After that the temperature and the thermal radiation converges to the temperature of the environment and the upstream of the nuke sucks in fresh air on ground level. I'm assuming this would also keep the exterior of the fridge cool. (Thanks Rive)

daric soldar

Indiana Jones was a pill that was much easier to swallow when Lucas chalked it up to divine power. You never hear anyone debate how the Ark melted everyone's faces off, or the knight that guarded the Grail was able to live for hundreds of years. Man, sometimes I miss the '80's.

gulfcoastfella

Someone give daric an award of some kind, because he's dead on; and I was one of the ones trying to analyze the scene. You reminded me that some things are just meant to be accepted.

DaveC426913

Though I guess in this case, it would be ET power.

daric soldar

An award will hardly be necessary. But I could certainly use some help when I take my first introductory Nuclear Engineering course in the fall

And if you've heard of the ludicrous "re-imagining" of the TMNT film by Michael Bay, by the same token you could say it was "Turtle Power".

mauricem

Daric, of course the fun of watching these films is not asking questions and enjoy the film. When Lucas said he had scientific evidence it was possible I began to wonder if I was missing something. Thanks to the gracious help of this forum, the question was answered. While it's unlikely, it is possible with some luck and impossible odds.

Anyway, I finally got around to making the infographic this weekend and I'd love your thoughts. In my blog post I gave special mention to the members that were the most patient with my ridiculous question. I learned a ton about nuclear physics and thanks for not making me feel stupid. :)

Attached Thumbnails

 

DaveC426913

That is an awesome infographic mauricem. I love infographics.

mauricem

Thanks Dave! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

mauricem

Dave, I'm sorry I didn't list you in the acknowledgements before! I knew I forgot someone.

DaveC426913

S'all right. Just go win this:

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/

Curious3141

All of you are forgetting the fact that Indy's Grail-enhanced. After The Last Crusade, he's more than a man. That god stuff's gotta be worth 1 thousand rem, easy.

Sheesh, so much thought about the physical plausibility of an escapist fantasy (a bad instalment in the series, at that). What's next, a serious debate on the biological plausibility of instant tissue regeneration by water held in two-millennium old wooden cup?

mauricem

Just entered! Thanks for the heads up Dave.