Wooden vs iron sword causing bone fracture

In summary, the conversation discusses various weapons and their ability to cause head injuries. The focus is on whether or not a wooden blade or sword could be used to decapitate someone. The conversation references a study on the death of an Aboriginal man and the injuries that were observed on his skull, as well as other cases of head injuries caused by objects such as a ceiling fan or a baseball. There is also a mention of the potential use of depleted uranium for a deadly sword. However, the conversation ends with a discussion on the sinking of a ship due to a fire caused by a Dutch fireship, which leads to a reference to the Swedish word for sword and a mention of being annoyed about the incident.
  • #1
be unique
39
0
I'm trying to talk science to anthropologists and hope an academic physicist will let me quote him. Here is the data and my purpose is to prove that wood can't slice a skull the way a sword does . good grief ...
" On this basis, the boomerang is the most probable candidate for the main trauma. , ..Of the weapons tested, the frontal wound observed in Kaakutja most closely resembles that produced by an African ‘Samburu’ sword".
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308184804_The_death_of_Kaakutja_A_case_of_peri-mortem_weapon_trauma_in_an_Aboriginal_man_from_north-western_New_South_Wales_Australia
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Paediatric ceiling fan-induced head injury | Radiology Case ...
https://radiopaedia.org/cases/paediatric-ceiling-fan-induced-head-injury
Dec 26, 2015 - Child struck on the head by a ceiling fan. ... Depressed curvilinear skull vault fracture with an underlying linear ...
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Fan Decapitation | MythBusters | Discovery
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/decapitated-by-fan/
Apr 11, 2012 - The Mythbusters asked: Can you be decapitated by a ceiling fan? ... a standard household fan 52-inch (132-centimeter) wooden ... 600mm blade
.26miles per hour (42 kilometers per hour). . concussion or a bloody nose, but the blades are too dull and slow to decapitate.
The industrial fan —metal blades that whip around at 54miles per hour (87 kilometers per hour) — . The blades acted like rotating machetes, slicing straight through the neck, jugular and vertebrae."
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13 x10mm wide neck cervical vertebrae, 100mm flesh.
Aboriginal skull Kaakutja . 110mm bone excision to about 20mm wide
wooden fan trauma on child skull 100mm bone linear crack , 10mm crater

'The atlantoaxial (C1–2) joint in pigs is similar to that in humans and could serve as a human substitute. The pig cervical spine is highly similar to the human cervical spine, ."
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Max arm-speed of baseball pitcher is about 100mph : 160 ft/sec.
Vortex 56 Inch High Velocity Ceiling Fan - Stainless Steel
Industrial fan . 700mm blade x 150mm. Area 1050 sq cm
Indonesian keris sword , similar thickness 530mm x 50mm. Area 265 sq cm. = . 4 weight mass

wooden fan 600mm blade x 150mm. Area 900 sq cm.
boomerang hardwood blade 600mm x 50mm. Area 300 sq cm. thickness is about 10mm and weight similar to keris and to wooden fan-blade about 5mm thick.

Janka hardness boomerang blade
Gidgee 4270
Mulga acacia 3820
( Hickory 1820 ).

So in broad terms would you say a wooden blade or sword was used on the Aboriginal skull?
 
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  • #2
An iron boomerang will not work.
 
  • #3
No you're thinking of iron boats which sank look at the Titanic.
 
  • #4
Aluminium and lightweight carbon based structures (wood) work though,
I love Carbon, but so does everybody.
The perfect way to decapitate somebody would probably need a sword constructed from depleted Uraniam
 
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  • #5
Swedish svardet means "sword" , it became lightweight carbon but sank and stopped working. .
"Svärdet was under the command of Claes Uggla, and fought in the Battle of Öland. Before the surrounding enemies could board Svärdet, a Dutch fireship accidentally set her ablaze. The fire eventually reached the gunpowder store, which set off an explosion that sank the ship. "
Charcoal and iron sink. Uranium blades at mach6 are deadly.
 
  • #6
I suppose that a lot of people got very annoyed about that,
 
  • #7
Absolutely . I'm quite annoyed.
 

1. How does the type of sword impact bone fractures?

The type of sword used in an injury can greatly affect the severity and type of bone fracture. A wooden sword is more likely to cause a blunt force injury, resulting in a greenstick or hairline fracture. On the other hand, an iron sword is more likely to cause a penetrating injury, resulting in a complete or compound fracture.

2. What makes wooden swords less likely to cause bone fractures?

Wooden swords are less dense and lighter than iron swords, making them less likely to cause severe bone fractures. The impact from a wooden sword is often distributed over a larger area, reducing the force on a specific point of the bone and making it more flexible. This can result in less severe fractures or even prevent fractures altogether.

3. Are there any factors that can influence the likelihood of bone fractures from swords?

Yes, there are several factors that can affect the likelihood of bone fractures from swords. These include the strength and skill of the person wielding the sword, the angle and force of the strike, and the thickness and quality of the bone being struck. Additionally, the type and condition of the sword can also play a role in the severity of bone fractures.

4. Can a wooden sword cause more damage than an iron sword?

While a wooden sword may be less likely to cause a severe bone fracture, it is still capable of causing damage. A strong and skilled individual can still deliver a powerful strike with a wooden sword, potentially causing bruising, muscle damage, or even fractures. However, an iron sword, with its sharper edge and heavier weight, has a higher potential to cause severe damage to bones and surrounding tissues.

5. What are some potential benefits of using wooden swords in combat or training?

Wooden swords have been used in combat and training for centuries, and for good reason. They are lighter and safer to use, making them ideal for beginners or for practicing new techniques. Wooden swords also allow for more realistic sparring and training without the risk of causing serious injuries. Additionally, wooden swords can be less expensive and easier to maintain compared to iron swords.

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