The Burmese Monument That Appears to Defy Gravity

On the peak of Mount Kyaiktiyo is a mind-bending Buddhist monument: a 25-foot rock that balances precariously on the edge of a cliff.

From: WONDERS OF BURMA: Shrines of Gold

[kennethsatria]

Mythic or not its quite beautiful and we should respect their belief

[Felixlives]

imagine how they were able to put/build the pagoda on top without tripping it :)

[kickDustPedestrian]

It's been there more than two thousand years because the hermit met the Buddha and given a strain of hair. Actually there were two hermit brothers. People believe the stone was in the air. They believe, as the stone is floating in the air, a string can be pulled under it. It was inaccessible or hardly accessible for hundreds of years till recently.

[alphaninyo]

*The urge to push that rock intensifies*

[richardarrow]

Buddhist technology amazes me. 10 Simple.

[arcticnerd]

"The more that a sight is shrouded in myth and miracles, the more important it is to prey there." That pretty much sums up all religion.

[KrishLius]

it isn't defying the laws of gravity. the structure constructed on top helps it balance and the reason why it hasn't tipped over yet is due to it's enormous weight which makes it very hard to simply push. A beautiful sight nevertheless.

[ssk]

I heard once told that ''One's faith defies gravity".

[raymondfair]

Is the rock actually from the ocean? Have they done any tests on it?

[BangMaster]

Not defying gravity,
its all Physics
the rock is balanced, as so that friction from the mountain edge keeps it from sliding,
it is called "Static Friction" meaning that more force needs to be applied on the rock in order to move it, which would then turn into "Kinetic Friction"

Friction is bondage between particles on objects at molecular levels, so the bondage between the rock particles and mountain particles is super strong, hence keeping the rock balanced

But since the rock is right on the edge, tilted at an angle, there is
"Gravitational potential Energy" on the rock,

think of this as an apple hanging on the tree, when an apple is hanging, it has
"Gravitational Potential Energy", meaning, it has the potential to fall down,
and eventually, if someone applies some pressure on the apple, it does fall down

in the same way, the force of Gravity is constantly pulling down on the rock,
creating potential energy for the rock to eventually fall down once the force of gravity
overcomes the "Static Friction", which may take a long time

unless some one pushes just hard enough to release that potential energy, and let gravity then easily pull down on the rock,
making the rock slide on the mountain edge, which is kinetic friction

[danhatman]

i can just imagine myself now, touching it looking at its miraculous ability to balance, then push it slightly without anyone noticing

[башарал]

The sheer weight of the thing is probably creating enough friction for it to be steadily in place.

[dima]

What will happen to their faith when the rock finally falls? It is bound to happen.

[oscarmuffin]

Fun fact. This site was closed for a time during the 1990's. During that time the Burmese government was busy drilling a 6 inch diameter hole through the rock and piling a large metal pole into it and the ground below to keep it in place.

[williamtay]

Inaccurate history, the king didn't pull no sht. It was someone (A ruling figure of Heaven) that pulled it. And Heaven and Nevada is a 2 different thing, I can't explain it but you can go read it in the Basic Teaching of Buddha app in playstore (It is free)

[wilburshaw]

There’s no way it was placed there by people as they claim. No way.

[sagkoenigin]

Thought it would be a science video. Smithsonian is becoming discovery or History channel showing things like hauntings or ancient alliens etc.

[rbrtman]

and is this a scientific or religious video?

[rustyshackleford]

Most of the mass is on the cliff it's not a mystery how it hast fallen....Now that one stone in India that looks like it's floating that's a cool stone

[hellohi]

My grandma was allowed to go up close when she was younger, but now the Burmese change it so only male are allowed