MythBusters Episode 185: Revenge of the Myths

A water heater turned on its side can act as a cannon if it explodes.

confirmed

To test the destructive power of a heater, Adam and Jamie set one up at the bomb range and aimed it directly at the side of a van. When it exploded, the van was heavily damaged and knocked onto its side. They decided to build a cannon, using the force of the heater’s explosion to launch a projectile. Jamie built a heavy steel breech section to contain the heater and debris, while Adam put together a 40 ft (12 m) barrel to guide the ball.

For a comparison, they fired a Civil War-era cannon into a line of pallets loaded with concrete blocks, and found that it could penetrate one pallet and part of a second. Firing their water heater cannon, they were able to destroy one pallet and found the ball stopped at the front edge of the second. Although their cannon did not have as much destructive potential as a real cannon and was not suited for practical use, they judged the myth confirmed.

(Water heaters were previously explored in Exploding Water Heater and Myth Evolution.)

A man could attach hundreds of fireworks to himself, launch off a ramp, and fly 150 ft (46 m) with a properly designed aircraft. (Based on Fireworks Man.)

confirmed

Reviewing the earlier test footage, the Build Team decided to redesign their flight vehicle to increase its stability. After fine-tuning their model in a NASA wind tunnel, they did a small-scale test, achieving an estimated 300 ft (91 m) altitude and 150 ft (46 m) range.

They built a full-sized vehicle and launch ramp and set up at a rock quarry, placing the ramp on a ridge overlooking a lake. With 500 fireworks on the back and Buster strapped in, the vehicle achieved a straight flight that carried it 700 ft (213 m) to a touchdown on the other side of the lake. The team reversed their original “busted” decision and declared the myth confirmed. However, they also noted that a person trying it would have a very poor chance of surviving the impact on landing.

A limousine balanced on the edge of a cliff can topple if a bird perches on the hood. (A revisit of Bird Balance.)

busted

Tory put together a 40 lb (18 kg) analog of a Kori Bustard, the heaviest known flying bird, while Grant built a rig to drop up to forty 25 lb (11 kg) raw turkeys on the car hood at once. The Build Team found the balance point using a pipe fulcrum and knife edge, then positioned the car on the edge of a 300 ft (91 m) cliff. Even in high winds, the car did not tip when the Bustard was dropped onto the hood, so Grant began adding one turkey at a time. It only went over the cliff after he had added 26 turkeys, for an approximate total weight of 700 lb (318 kg). The team stood by their original “busted” judgment.

It is possible to thread a needle using an excavator.

confirmed

Adam and Jamie set up a dummy with a needle in one hand, and attached a clamp to the excavator’s bucket to hold a piece of thread. Jamie worked the machine while Adam guided him; after several minutes, the thread went through the eye of the needle.

It is possible to pour a glass of wine using an excavator.

confirmed

A wineglass and sealed bottle were placed on a table, and the bucket was fitted with an attachment to pick up and hold the bottle. Once Adam had it in position and tilted to a suitable upward angle, he shot the cap off with a paintball gun, allowing the wine to pour into the glass.