Human Cannonball

circus · stunt · physics · courage

Ancient idea. The human cannonball act started way back in the 1870s as one of the wildest circus tricks ever invented. It instantly became a huge crowd pleaser because people couldn't believe someone would actually do it.

Not really explosive. The "cannon" isn't actually powered by gunpowder. Instead, it uses springs, compressed air, or hydraulics to launch the performer at incredible speeds through the air.

Super precise landing. The performer has to land on a safety net or giant inflated bag placed exactly where the math says they'll come down. Even a few feet off and the stunt could go very wrong, so every detail matters.

Water landings too. Some human cannonballs perform outdoors and splash down into lakes or pools instead of nets, making the act even more dramatic and refreshing on hot days.

Incredible forces. The acceleration during launch is so powerful that it pushes on the performer's body with forces much stronger than regular gravity, which is why they have to be specially trained athletes.