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Especially informative was the side comment on what an atomic bomb really sounds like to those on the ground observing from a distance. Forget the media represe

Especially informative was the side comment on what an atomic bomb really sounds like to those on the ground observing from a distance. Forget the media representations (shocker, right?). The all-encompassing, blinding light of the sun part in fictional portrayals is mostly realistic. The sound however, is completely different, and I've never heard a fictional one like it [1], with its higher-toned sharp bang preceding the growling aftermath that is also higher-toned than I expected based upon conditioned memory from entertainment media. It's like most entertainment media portrayals of drowning: not useful, not actionable, not educational, and not informative; would be more enriching if the entertainment industry reversed that predilection. [1] https://youtu.be/U_nLNcEbIC8?t=141 https://youtu.be/U_nLNcEbIC8?t=141

DonHopkins 9y ago
I always thought the higher tone preceding the bang was the "YEEEEEEE HAAAAAWWWW!" https://youtu.be/snTaSJk0n_Y?t=1m30s https://youtu.be/snTaSJk0n_Y?t=1m30s
- smnplk 9y ago
  I don't get why he had a parachute.
ryanmarsh 9y ago
Indeed this reconstruction sounds a lot more like bombs sound in real life. https://youtu.be/Mn7PeI2UyEM https://youtu.be/Mn7PeI2UyEM
mannykannot 9y ago
We have to consider that the recording equipment probably did not capture the detonation with much fidelity, and not at all the physiological effects of a powerful shockwave. I was once fairly close to a lightning strike, and my impression was that there had just been a very loud bang - it was as if it had no duration whatsoever. If a movie were to depict an explosion realistically, most of the audience would think there was something wrong about it.
- userbinator 9y ago
  If a movie were to depict an explosion realistically, most of the audience would think there was something wrong about it. I think that would be more applicable in the past, but now that there's plenty of real explosions you can see and hear on YouTube, a "movie explosion" probably sounds quite obviously... cinematic. The same goes for car crashes (which are in reality similar to your description of lightning: usually one loud bang, and then silence --- no tinkling of shrapnel or boomy bass echoes.)
  - tgjsrkghruksd 9y ago
    yup. bang and then silence, and then maybe after a stunned pause the wails/groans of any surviving wounded.
Confusion 9y ago
Relevant to the part about 'drowning': Drowning doesn't look like drowning (http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/ http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/) In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening. Drowning does not look like drowning

DonHopkins 9y ago

I always thought the higher tone preceding the bang was the "YEEEEEEE HAAAAAWWWW!" https://youtu.be/snTaSJk0n_Y?t=1m30s https://youtu.be/snTaSJk0n_Y?t=1m30s

smnplk 9y ago
I don't get why he had a parachute.

ryanmarsh 9y ago

Indeed this reconstruction sounds a lot more like bombs sound in real life. https://youtu.be/Mn7PeI2UyEM https://youtu.be/Mn7PeI2UyEM

mannykannot 9y ago

We have to consider that the recording equipment probably did not capture the detonation with much fidelity, and not at all the physiological effects of a powerful shockwave. I was once fairly close to a lightning strike, and my impression was that there had just been a very loud bang - it was as if it had no duration whatsoever. If a movie were to depict an explosion realistically, most of the audience would think there was something wrong about it.

userbinator 9y ago
If a movie were to depict an explosion realistically, most of the audience would think there was something wrong about it. I think that would be more applicable in the past, but now that there's plenty of real explosions you can see and hear on YouTube, a "movie explosion" probably sounds quite obviously... cinematic. The same goes for car crashes (which are in reality similar to your description of lightning: usually one loud bang, and then silence --- no tinkling of shrapnel or boomy bass echoes.)
- tgjsrkghruksd 9y ago
  yup. bang and then silence, and then maybe after a stunned pause the wails/groans of any surviving wounded.

Confusion 9y ago

Relevant to the part about 'drowning': Drowning doesn't look like drowning (http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/ http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/) In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening. Drowning does not look like drowning