Question 047: Levitation

Have you ever heard of something called "party levitation?" It is explained at http://www.lauralee.com/partylv3.htm. I was part of a group that tried it and it works. I have read some explanations about it being possible because of ki or the use of Diamagnetism and anti-gravity.x

Reply

The finger levitation stunt has been a parlor trick used for centuries to prove a variety of things. All it really proves is that four average people can lift one average person. It was described by Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) in his famous Diary as being done by French schoolgirls upon a corpulent pastry chef, and it was an old trick even at that time.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average male weights 190 pounds and the average female weights 163 pounds. Let us assume the person being lifted is a 200 pound male. Each of the lifters would only have to lift an average of 50 pounds, an easy weight to lift with two hands, even for a woman. Even though two fingers are used, the weight is not on just the two fingers, it is mostly on the hands. Males tend to be stronger than females, so they can lift more. This is why two females are not put on the same side. If a female on one side could not lift her entire share of the weight, the male could easily lift the extra weight.

The world is full of weird people and strange beliefs. When people cannot achieve in the real world, they tend to invent something at which they can achieve, such as inventing some outlandish theories and then making themselves experts on the subjects. When put to the test by impartial scientists using standard scientific testing procedures, all these people with outlandish theories and claims either refuse to be tested or, if they do test, they fail miserably.

 

These people always claim there is some conspiracy to suppress them by the government, corporations, or the scientific community. They find conspiracies everywhere.

If something does not conform to standard knowledge, it is probably wrong. Instead of reading about outlandish theories and their equally outlandish explanations, it is better to read about how these theories have been debunked.

When you read too much science fiction, you sometimes get science confused with science fiction. One trick used by frauds is to plant a seed of doubt about the truth, and then to hit hard with so many lies that they begin to sound true and the truth begins to appear false. Frauds are good at what they do; it similar to dealing with a car salesperson. No matter how good you think you are at car dealing, you only do it once every few years, they do it many times a day for years.

Houdini made it his life’s work to dunk false claims. Another person who has made a life’s works of debunking the bunk is James Randi. Check out his site at: http://www.randi.org/
Remember, use reason, logic, and scientific analysis when dealing with extraordinary claims, and always be skeptical.