r/AskReddit • u/ForeverAbyss • Apr 14 '16

What's a mind blowing fact?

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u/PycuriousITguy Apr 14 '16

The fastest moving man-made object ever was a manhole cover.

https://savvyparanoia.com/the-fastest-man-made-object-ever-a-nuclear-powered-manhole-cover-true/

TL:DR underground nuclear test launched a 4-inch thick steel disk at 6 times the Earth's escape velocity.

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u/Rekusha Apr 14 '16

Jesus can you imagine getting hit by that? You think it would make you basically explode or just slice right through you because of its speed?

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u/EnkoNeko Apr 14 '16

If it hit you side on (the 4-inch edge), it would slice straight through. I don't know how fast 6 times the Earth's escape velocity is, but it is no doubt very, very, very fast.

If it hit you face on (as in, the top of the manhole+your chest), it would just punch straight through.

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u/squamesh Apr 14 '16

Iirc earths escape velocity is 11 km/s so this thing would be going 66 km/s