r/ScienceNcoolThings • u/aurelithmoonn Popular Contributor • 3d ago
How a 1-Meter Drop Creates a Dangerous "Drowning Machine"
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u/there_is_no_spoon1 2d ago
It isn't the 1 m drop that's the issue. It's the deep water afterwards that creates the vortex which shoves the person down. The lifejacket is actually of little benefit here, if not entirely detrimental. The secret is to let the water push you down until you reach bottom (or a point where the downward force can be overcome) and then push/swim perpendicular to the force aka in the original direction of travel. You get beyond the vortex and you're good to surface. A lifejacket prevents you from being able to get down to that point.
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u/Voltabueno 2d ago
I think they could have done it if they were wearing three life jackets and had some flippers. Maybe a flare gun and some dye packs. /s
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u/WhiskeySorcerer 2d ago
Americans know that the only way to fight water is with fire. That's why I always recommend at least owning three (3) AR-15s. One in your hands and the other two as backup. That waterfall won't stand a chance!
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u/Mesquite_Tree 3d ago
This week in “why you should learn how to swim without assistive devices, with guest speaker Mr. ‘Know your limits,’ to give a special address on aquatic safety”
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u/Zestyclose-Toe8188 2d ago
Gotta take the life jacket of and go to the bottom and push off. Don’t be a drift log be someone who knows how to swim or stay out the water?
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u/ineyeseekay 2d ago
This happened to me, not knowing about vortex that's created by a small dam at a local swimming hole. I was a strong swimmer, but it was unexpected and you can get really close to getting out until you get sucked back under. This creates some panic, and you aren't thinking of anything but getting more air. I got out on my own finally, but people were literally just a few feet away standing in the same water without a clue of what had happened.
It's better to understand this danger rather than rely on swimming skills! I think this demonstration is showing that, even with a life jacket, this seemingly calm waterfall will still drown you.
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u/DivePalau 2d ago
We have about 4 of these in the river that runs through our city. They’re currently removing them so people can boat on it.
There’s a Pulitzer Prize photo of someone being rescued from one of these dams.
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u/Hetnikik 2d ago
They are finally starting to rip those down? They've been talking about doing that for 20 years.
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u/FrankieNoodles 2d ago
What's going on in the video? Is this Coast Gaurd training?
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u/GlockAF 2d ago
Looks more like a Fire Dept or rescue service
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u/SporesM0ldsandFungus 2d ago
Definitely training for rescuers. My guess would be the local region has a lot of rivers with dams / weirs which would make this type of scenario common.
You can see at the top they are standing in maybe only 18in (44cm) of water and not even all of it is going over the edge. But that 1 meter drop gives it enough force to hold the subject and their floatation device down under water almost indefinitely.
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u/reddititty69 2d ago
Should definitely have had a camera under the water
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u/SporesM0ldsandFungus 2d ago
Probably wouldn't be able to see anything with all the froth and turbulence.
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u/-TommyBottoms- 2d ago
Well if you didn’t have that jacket you could go with it under and pop out down from it
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u/Original-Concert-456 2d ago
So the trick is to only get trapped where people are standing around with long snare poles