Here are some of the famous tricks that have dazzled people for centuries! Eventually, we found out their simple, mechanical explanations!

Trick 1. Sawing a person in half
We’ve all seen that scary trick. In fact, there are two assistants inside the magician’s box!

Trick 2. The torn banknote
A magician uses a special pencil that has been cut in half diagonally and connected with strong magnets. This allows the banknote to be easily passed between the two magnetised halves and remain undamaged.

Trick 3. Levitation
The secret of this trick is in the cleverly hidden support. That is why the magicians, who perform it, often stand in a way which perfectly conceals the end of their staff.

Trick 4. The disappearing cup.
A glass of water is placed on the table and is covered with a handkerchief. The magician lifts the handkerchief up and throws it into the air. The result: it falls on the floor, and the glass disappears. Here are two tricks. Firstly, there’s a wire ring sewn into the handkerchief. It creates the illusion that the glass is underneath the handkerchief. Secondly, the glass is then lowered into a secret pouch through a hole in the table.

Trick 5. The human 'zig-zag'
The magician’s assistant maintains her feet and hands in a special position inside a very small and oddly-shaped box.

Trick 6. Michael Jackson’s 'anti-gravity lean'.

Remember Michael Jackson's video for the song ’Smooth Criminal’? It looks incredible, as Michael keeps his entire body straight whilst bending his ankles at an acute 45-degree angle. The secret here is in the specially-designed shoes. They had a heel that locked into pegs on the floor.