When watching a good magician in action,
many great tricks seem to completely defy logic and the laws of nature.
However, even the most complex of tricks has an underlying rational
explanation. Below, we show you just how 8 popular magic tricks work.
Just promise us not to call out all the magicians you meet as phonies -
nobody likes a heckler!
1. Changing Coffee Into Cash
Originally
one of David Blaine's signature tricks, this illusion went on to become
one of the most popular illusions performed around the world. In order
for this trick to be set up, the magician needs to cut a plastic cup in
half and fill it with coins. He then needs to place this inside of a
bigger cup that's filled with coffee, and which has a sponge and a small
hole at the bottom of it. To perform the trick, all the magician needs
to do is to push the smaller cup upwards by using his finger. The coffee will get absorbed by the sponge, the coins will be revealed, and the audience will be utterly amazed!
2. The Magical Sword
There's
quite a simple explanation to this trick, which was once performed by
James More on Britain's Got Talent. While it may look like the magician
has been impaled on a sword, he actually has a special contraption
hidden underneath his shirt. When he lies on the sword, it moves down
into the base, while the contraption on his chest pushes a fake sword
upwards.
3. Making Cards Appear Out of Thin Air
To
be able to pull playing cards out of thin air, a magician needs to make
use of a special card holder, which is attached to the back of his
hand. Then, with a particularly dexterous motion, they are able to make
the card 'magically' appear. Some highly professional magicians can even
perform this trick without using a device, but this requires years of
dedicated training to pull off flawlessly.
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4. Swallowing Balloons
While this illusion makes it look like the magician is swallowing a long balloon
whole, the secret is actually a number of tiny holes which are found at
the top of the balloon. Once the balloon is in his mouth, the magician
will put pressure on it using his tongue, thereby causing the balloon to
deflate. He needs to hurry though since the balloon will naturally
start to deflate if he leaves it too long!
5. Being Run Over by a Truck
This
trick is entirely based on the natural laws of physics. Even though the
magician is actually being run over by a moving truck, hidden weights
in the back end of the vehicle allow its balance to be shifted in such a
way that the lighter side easily rolls over the magician's body. This
causes only a little discomfort, and absolutely no harm.
6. Cutting and Restoring a Rope
While
it may appear that the magician is cutting a rope in half and then
sticking it back together, in reality, the rope in question is never
even cut at all. Instead, the magician hides a short piece of rope in
his hand and cuts through that one instead. By then pulling the short
rope upwards, using only sleight of hand, the magician will manage to
create the illusion of it having been restored by means of magic.
7. Making Objects Levitate
To
make objects appear to float in midair, magicians use ridiculously thin
rubber bands and tiny pencils which are hidden up their sleeves. They
then tie everything up in place and constantly keep the object in
motion, so that the supporting bands are never witnessed by the
audience.
8. Suspending Water in Midair
To
make a glass of water appear to defy gravity, magicians make use of a
special cup with a hole at one end. By placing a finger over that hole,
they create a vacuum inside the glass, which keeps the water from
escaping. This hole would usually be so small that even if an audience
member tries to replicate the trick, they would be unsuccessful unless
they know exactly where it's located.
If you'd like to try your hand at some simple but amazing magic tricks, then click here!
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