Posted Wednesday 18 April 2007

How to Break a Glass

Some years ago, you probably saw that television advertisement for 'Memorex' brand recording tape, where the lady opera singer breaks a glass by singing a certain note. When you saw her doing that, you probably wanted to break a glass that way, too. I know I did.

Here's how to do it ...

First you get a glass. A fancy wine glass might be better than a jelly jar, but I'm not sure.

Next, you determine the 'natural frequency of vibration' of the glass. You do this by tapping on the glass with a little teensy thing, hard enough to make it sound a note, but not hard enough to break it. There is 'spozed to be some special tool used for tapping bottles, but I've never seen such a tool.

Next, you must sing the exact same note that the glass made, and increase your volume to 130 decibels, and hold that note at that volume for a time. When you get this sound just right, the glass will begin to vibrate and then it will shatter, throwing glass all over the floor. This should be very satisfying.

If that doesn't work, then just pick it up and throw it on the floor.