It is through the live force acquired, or inertia at rest, that stones are broken by a blow of the fist. This experiment is performed as follow: The right hand being properly bandaged with a handkerchief, the stone to be broken is taken with the left and allowed to rest upon a larger stone or upon an anvil. Then the stone to be broken is struck with the right fist, while care is taken to raise it a slight distance above the anvil just before the fist touches it. The stone then takes on the velocity of the fist that strikes it, and coming into violent contact with its support, is very promptly broken.

As simple as this experiment is, it always surprises the spectators.