3 ms·

> If the helmet didn't decelerate any impulse to the head, the range of impacts that it could theoretically protect the wearer from would actually be quite narr

> If the helmet didn't decelerate any impulse to the head, the range of impacts that it could theoretically protect the wearer from would actually be quite narrow. This is wonderful understatement: “If the g-forces between the helmet and the brain weren’t different, the helmet wasn’t a helmet at all!”

djmips 6y ago
A helmet can just protect the skull So a helmet doesn't have to be padded or help with g-forces to be a helmet. I think helmets were initially just to prevent skull fracture.
- bryanrasmussen 6y ago
  well, yeah when those helmets were worn by knights in the middle ages, but many helmets nowadays have to withstand g-forces to do their job. If English was like Italian there might be a specific word for a non g-force withstanding helmet and otherwise.
  - willis936 6y ago
    And every war in the first half of the 20th century.
  - ashtonkem 6y ago
    Knight's helmets were actually heavily padded, with most knights wearing heavy padded linen garments over their torso, arms, and head. Nicer helmets would have a leather strap system as well. Many helmets appeared to have integral liners, although the linen has rotted away and only left the rivets where they were attached. With the advent of plate armor, offensive techniques began to focus on concussive force in order to disable combatants, including war hammers and maces. A blow to the head with only a bit of steel between your skull and a mace would be a fatal experience without any padding. Even with padding it was notorious for deafening and disorienting knights, due to noise and (presumably) brain injury.
    - bryanrasmussen 6y ago
      It's a lucky thing that Sir Ulrich Von Liechtenstein was such a cunning champion in both the sword and joust or he might have ended up with all the brains of poor Wat.
ashtonkem 6y ago
A helmet without padding can protect against low energy penetrating impacts; think BBs or similar. They do this by spreading the impact point out over the entire head; preventing penetration or fracture. But for pure G forces, you’re right. A helmet with no padding is effectively similar to not having a helmet at all.

djmips 6y ago

A helmet can just protect the skull So a helmet doesn't have to be padded or help with g-forces to be a helmet. I think helmets were initially just to prevent skull fracture.

bryanrasmussen 6y ago
well, yeah when those helmets were worn by knights in the middle ages, but many helmets nowadays have to withstand g-forces to do their job. If English was like Italian there might be a specific word for a non g-force withstanding helmet and otherwise.
- willis936 6y ago
  And every war in the first half of the 20th century.
- ashtonkem 6y ago
  Knight's helmets were actually heavily padded, with most knights wearing heavy padded linen garments over their torso, arms, and head. Nicer helmets would have a leather strap system as well. Many helmets appeared to have integral liners, although the linen has rotted away and only left the rivets where they were attached. With the advent of plate armor, offensive techniques began to focus on concussive force in order to disable combatants, including war hammers and maces. A blow to the head with only a bit of steel between your skull and a mace would be a fatal experience without any padding. Even with padding it was notorious for deafening and disorienting knights, due to noise and (presumably) brain injury.
  - bryanrasmussen 6y ago
    It's a lucky thing that Sir Ulrich Von Liechtenstein was such a cunning champion in both the sword and joust or he might have ended up with all the brains of poor Wat.

ashtonkem 6y ago

A helmet without padding can protect against low energy penetrating impacts; think BBs or similar. They do this by spreading the impact point out over the entire head; preventing penetration or fracture. But for pure G forces, you’re right. A helmet with no padding is effectively similar to not having a helmet at all.