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Post by The Urban Mythbuster on May 23, 2013 2:26:33 GMT
This is an episode that a lot of us have been waiting for since photos surfaced last year (October?). It was worth the wait.
30-foot dash: I think it was done well. The final test with the professional driver vs the sixth fastest man in the work, I don't think the results could be any more conclusive. Busted.
Weight loss: They did try multiple ways to get the desired result, but the best that happened was 50% the desired result. Plausible? Sounds right. They all agreed that they were still not at real race conditions (i.e., need a lot more cars on the track)
Manhole Mayhem: I had my doubts about this from the beginning. Though, I will say that the two-man "Indy experience" car that was used is considerably heavier and longer than a standard Indy car, which would have effects on the amount of downforce it produces - in turn, changing its effect on the manhole cover. Also, was 150 mph fast enough when race speeds for an Indy car are 200+? I have my doubts if even using a standard Indy car going 200 mph would effect the results. Busted.
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Post by the light works on May 23, 2013 3:43:50 GMT
OMG, I'm missing mythbusters! (good thing I have the DVR.)
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Post by The Urban Mythbuster on May 23, 2013 13:57:48 GMT
Wednesday is no longer "Hump Day", it is now Mythbusters Day! And, I believe, Thursday is still 'Prince Spaghetti Night'  |
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Post by the light works on May 23, 2013 14:15:54 GMT
weight loss: I saw two major things which could affect their results. they did the weigh in with the driving suit on. did they stop to consider where all the sweat goes under those conditions? second, did they hydrate before the race? granted, a gallon of water weighs 4 pounds - there is only so much difference it can make.
Manhole covers: they specified that on public road courses, the top speed for the cars is around 150 MPH. they also specified that the indy experience car did produce the same downforce.
30 foot dash: as with all bar bets, this one was busted by making it a fair start. it is entirely possible that by giving the runner the decision on when to start the race, he could have beaten the car.
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Post by The Urban Mythbuster on May 23, 2013 14:21:21 GMT
You know, with the weight loss myth, I was thinking about the implications of the race suit. Wouldn't all the sweat they let out be trapped in the suit?
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Post by the light works on May 23, 2013 14:23:54 GMT
You know, with the weight loss myth, I was thinking about the implications of the race suit. Wouldn't all the sweat they let out be trapped in the suit? I know when I was fighting, my padding would gain at least a couple pounds of water weight during the day - and my armor breathed a whole lot better than a firesuit does. |
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Post by The Urban Mythbuster on May 23, 2013 14:28:01 GMT
For the sauna (control) test, they performed the pre- & post- weigh-ins wearing a minimum amount of clothing (Does Tori's towel count as clothes?!), why not do the same for the race test?
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Post by WhutScreenName on May 23, 2013 17:05:23 GMT
That was my thought/complaint as well. Otherwise I was fine with everything else they did.
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Post by PK on May 23, 2013 20:57:21 GMT
I did learn something entierly unexpected last night: I've driven through Willows dozens of times (particularly when I was going to school in Chico). I was through there just a couple of weeks ago, most recently.
I never knew there was a race track nearby! When Tori said he knew just the place, I figured they were headed to Sears Point (or whatever it's called these days).
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Post by Antigone68104 on May 23, 2013 21:36:31 GMT
You know, with the weight loss myth, I was thinking about the implications of the race suit. Wouldn't all the sweat they let out be trapped in the suit? That was my thought as well. I'm not a race driver, but I've handled those suits when they come in for cleaning. The padding should have absorbed at least some of their sweat ... or other bodily fluids, when Grant and Kari went off the track . |
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Post by breesfan on May 24, 2013 1:26:30 GMT
I thought that was very interesting. Weight loss: It's really hard to determine if the myth is true because of the conditions. Why weren't the guys wearing speedos.  Yes, I did ask that. LOL The manhole cover: I think if it has happened in the past, it is plausible though but then you only had one race car on the street and not more. Man v. Car: I thought it was interesting but car will always win by a nose. LOL |
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Post by blazerrose on May 24, 2013 3:49:41 GMT
erm, I think the towel and boxers were a plenty minimal coverage. My question on the manhole cover - what if you have car after car after car going over it, not just one once? Would you be able to create a sufficient vacuum? The results of man v. car were quite interesting - I never would have guessed it would be that close. |
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Post by blazerrose on May 24, 2013 3:50:29 GMT
Wednesday is no longer "Hump Day", it is now Mythbusters Day! And, I believe, Thursday is still 'Prince Spaghetti Night' More like once again MythBusters day! |
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Post by breesfan on May 24, 2013 4:34:59 GMT
erm, I think the towel and boxers were a plenty minimal coverage. My question on the manhole cover - what if you have car after car after car going over it, not just one once? Would you be able to create a sufficient vacuum? The results of man v. car were quite interesting - I never would have guessed it would be that close. I agree about the manhole cover. I think they could have maybe tested that better. |
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Post by srmarti on May 24, 2013 4:38:06 GMT
30-foot dash: I think it was done well. The final test with the professional driver vs the sixth fastest man in the work, I don't think the results could be any more conclusive. Busted. It's pretty old myth though and the results were pretty close. Perhaps once upon a time when Indy cars were less developed than now, it was true. |
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Post by srmarti on May 24, 2013 4:53:04 GMT
The manhole cover myth is very simple to determine. Put the cover on top of a cylindrical tank, apply air pressure and see how much it takes to blow the cover off. If it takes more than about 15 psig, it's busted right there. The air pressure under the car might be a partial vaccumm but it's certainly not zero. They didn't measure the actual air pressure under the car did they? If the differential pressure to lift the cover off the take exceeds the vaccumm produced by the car, game over.
Simple and scientific, but obviously not as fun for TV.
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Post by srmarti on May 24, 2013 5:00:01 GMT
My question on the manhole cover - what if you have car after car after car going over it, not just one once? Would you be able to create a sufficient vacuum? Why would it? The vacuum effect doesn't add with each car and goes away between cars. There's nothing to hold it there. |
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Post by The Urban Mythbuster on May 24, 2013 11:56:46 GMT
Assuming the cars drove in almost precise single file, wouldn't there actually be fluctuations in air pressure as cars passed over, as there would be a gap (pressure release) between each car passing over?
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Post by the light works on May 24, 2013 13:35:49 GMT
Assuming the cars drove in almost precise single file, wouldn't there actually be fluctuations in air pressure as cars passed over, as there would be a gap (pressure release) between each car passing over? you're thinking it might "bounce" it? it's a longshot, but it might be possible. I still think there is just too much mass per surface area to lift with less than 1 atmosphere of pressure differential. especially since real manhole covers have holes in them. |
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Post by The Urban Mythbuster on May 24, 2013 13:41:40 GMT
This depends on the age & location of the manhole covers. I've seen a lot of each type (with & without holes). But, I can definitely see where the holes would prevent any lifting of the manhole at all.
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Yes, I did ask that. LOL
