The MythBusters The MythBusters

MythBusters Episode 122: Prison Escape

Premier Date: June 3, 2009

You can use dental floss to cut through the steel bars of a prison.

plausible

Grant built a flossing robot, applied toothpaste to the bars (the grit used to clean your teeth, they reasoned, could be used to aid the floss), and let it run for a week. After a week, the bar had been worn away a fraction of an inch, which, by Grant’s calculations, mean that you can cut through one bar in less than 300 days if you flossed 8 hours a night.

An 18th century prisoner placed the ball from his ball-and-chain into the prison’s ceremonial cannon, fired himself over the prison wall, and survived.

busted

After getting the specifications of a ball-and-chain for a 170 pounds (77 kg) person (what the dummy weighed) from an expert, Tory built a homemade cannon for the ball. Using one shotgun shell full of black powder, they launched just the ball 80 yards (73 m), well over the fence. After attaching it to Buster and using two shells, he flew an unspectacular 6 feet (1.8 m). Using rope to simulate hip ligaments, they fired again. Buster’s leg was completely separated from his hip, leaving this myth busted.

A person can hold onto the roof of a car with the windows down while the car is zig-zagging.

confirmed

A safety rig was constructed in case Jamie couldn’t hold on, but he was easily able to hold onto a car going 45 miles per hour (72 km/h).

A person can hold onto the roof of a car with the windows up while the car was zig-zagging.

busted

Jamie could not hold on when the car was going 45 mph. The windows were up for all tests after this.

A person can hold onto the roof of a car while the car is making a big turn.

busted

Jamie fell off when the car was going at just 15–20 miles per hour (24–32 km/h).

A person can hold onto the roof of a car when it makes a sudden stop.

busted

Jamie lost his grip and almost blacked out after a 45 mph stop.

A person can hold onto the hood of a car while the car is zig-zagging.

busted

Adam fell off after the first swerve at just 20 mph.

A person can hold onto the hood of a car while the car is making a big turn.

busted

Adam fell off immediately at only 20 mph.

A person can hold onto the hood of a car when it makes a sudden stop.

confirmed

Adam was able to hold onto the hood at both 20 and 45 mph stops.

A driver can shake someone off of the roof of a car by going through a car wash.

busted

The car wash had no effect on Jamie except for the chilly 55 °F (13 °C) water.

A driver can shake someone off of the hood of a car by going through a car wash.

busted

Adam easily held on to the hood.