TIL Most movies depicting death by lava get it wrong, because you would not sink into the lava due to its density.

[u/RayWeil]

http://gawker.com/5866004/movies-show-death-by-lava-all-wrong

[u/brandongiant]

b..but....

http://www.reddit.com/r/woahdude/comments/vk0tg/if_you_throw_a_bag_of_garbage_into_hot_lava_video/

[u/Sock_Puppet_Orgy]

At first I thought, "Alright, well if movies show it incorrectly, could I see some real video of someone dying in lava?". Then, I realized I am a horrible person.

[u/spider2544 → u/Sock_Puppet_Orgy]

The could throw a dead pig into lava, it would be very similar.

[u/[deleted]]

It worked better because it is more aesthetically pleasing than accurately depicting what would actually happen.

[u/[deleted]]

You should try linking to the much more interesting article from Wired.

[u/[deleted]]

somebody tell notch hes doing it wrong.

[u/[deleted]]

This actually scares me more than the idea of sinking into lava.

[u/bendedheadtube]

I thought lord of the rings was a documentary rather than a movie.

[u/Cap-Sigma]

Does that mean, with proper foot attire, one would be able to walk across lava?

[u/iamayam]

What if Gollum is denser than lava?

[u/borkborkbork99]

Or you just get rejected by the volcano and spit back out into the ocean with Meg Ryan.

[u/[deleted]]

Except a T-1000. That thing would definitely sink and stuff.

[u/petdance]

If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let 'em go, because man, they're gone. -- Jack Handey

[u/yoreel]

They're not sinking. They are being melted inch by inch.

[u/Rotvos]

Does the author from the Wired article know there are different kinds of lava?

1. basaltic lavas Basalt is and extrusive igneous rock of mafic composition (high in magnesium, iron, and calcium) and has the lowest silica content of the three igneous rock types; its intrusive equivalent is gabbro. Basaltic magma is the most common magma type. It is produced along mid-ocean ridges and at hotspots within plates, as wel as in continental rift valleys. The volcanic island af Hawaii, wich is made up primarily of basaltic lava, lies above a hot spot. Basaltic lavas erupt when hot, fluid magmas fill up a volcano plumbing system and overflow. Basaltic eruptions are rarely explosive. Because their temperatures are high and their silica content low, they are extremely fluid and can flow downhill fast and far. Lava streams flowing as fast as 100km/hour (60 miles per hour) have been observed, although velocities of a few kilometers per hour are more common. In 1938, two daring Russian volcanologists maesured temperatures and collected gas samples while floating down a river of molten basalt on a raft of colder solidified lava

[u/prince_harming]

I just always assumed it'd be more of a "splat" or a "thunK" (or "ziff! or "pow" if we're watching old Batman footage.) Just by looking at the stuff, you can see that it's a lot thicker.

I imagined it would be like falling into a vat of saltwater taffy, only not nearly as delicious. Looks like I was wrong, too, really, cause the difference in density means you'd never sink at all.

Next time I see a guy fall into a pit of lava and start sinking, I'm gonna tell him he's doing it wrong.

[u/Dapples]

As someone who's closest "near-death" experience is lava related, this TIL only makes it that much more terrifying in my nightmares.

[u/ManOfPopsicle]

So you can't drown in lava?

I guess that settles that.

[u/ldgunn1]

But let's not encourage standing in lava. You wouldn't want to get sued.

[u/That_One_Asian_Kid]

My entire Minecraft career has been a lie?!

[u/LeDinosaur]

r/minecraft are going to freak out.

[u/lockhamster]

now THAT is one mythbusters episode i'd really wanna watch

[u/GrayStudios]

This article comes off as smart, but it doesn't really say much. Obviously lava is thicker than water, but it's still a liquid. Even if its denser than a human being; because we are not pieces of styrofoam, we could easily work our way into the lava, slowly sinking feet first. If the character belly-flopped or landed on their back they would probably not sink at all, and the likelihood of snapping an ankle on the way in feet first would probably be really high due to the thickness and viscosity. The only part that seems obviously inaccurate is that characters should catch on fire. Perhaps Mythbusters should get on this one.

[u/BaqAttaq]

What about when Emo Skywalker gets thrown into the Lava at the end of Revenge of the Sith? That's pretty accurate in comparison.

[u/[deleted]]

This has always pissed me off. It is the ONE thing that happens in LOTR that doesn't happen in real life.