|
Post by Cybermortis on Aug 7, 2014 0:31:10 GMT
A random thought that popped into my head while watching Adam and Jamie's Com-Con panel;
What about coming up with a show where they could bring kids in to help out? Similar to the Young Scientists special they did a few years back.
The main problem is, of course, finding things they could do with kids safely, yet would still allow for a fairly normal show.
Ideas?
|
|
|
Post by ironhold on Aug 7, 2014 15:39:41 GMT
Newspaper throw: Is it better to roll newspapers in a tight spiral or fold them in half? (Presuming, of course, that the paper will go inside of a protective bag.)
Although it might sound silly, there's a legit question of aerodynamics involved and it's a bit of a debate at the newspaper I work for.
It takes more time and effort to roll a paper into a tight spiral, and such papers are prone to rolling or bouncing once they've landed. But folded papers are a lot broader, and so are more likely to catch the wind if thrown wrong. (Which is why I roll instead of fold: my front passenger-side window won't roll down, and so I have to throw my papers over the roof of my car in order to service customers on the right-hand side of the street. This leaves the papers airborne longer, and so it leaves more time for said papers to get caught up.)
I figure that as an experimental set-up, we give each team of kids & chaperones a number of newspapers, a quantity of bags, and basic tools like a stopwatch (for timing how long it takes to roll & fold) and a measuring tape (to record distance thrown).
|
|
|
Post by Cybermortis on Aug 7, 2014 15:51:24 GMT
I like that idea.
Need more.
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 7, 2014 15:53:34 GMT
Newspaper throw: Is it better to roll newspapers in a tight spiral or fold them in half? (Presuming, of course, that the paper will go inside of a protective bag.)Although it might sound silly, there's a legit question of aerodynamics involved and it's a bit of a debate at the newspaper I work for. It takes more time and effort to roll a paper into a tight spiral, and such papers are prone to rolling or bouncing once they've landed. But folded papers are a lot broader, and so are more likely to catch the wind if thrown wrong. (Which is why I roll instead of fold: my front passenger-side window won't roll down, and so I have to throw my papers over the roof of my car in order to service customers on the right-hand side of the street. This leaves the papers airborne longer, and so it leaves more time for said papers to get caught up.)I figure that as an experimental set-up, we give each team of kids & chaperones a number of newspapers, a quantity of bags, and basic tools like a stopwatch (for timing how long it takes to roll & fold) and a measuring tape (to record distance thrown). I like it - and since the current generation of kids may never have a paper route, it gives them an opportunity to explore how their ancestors lived. I think the tests should have both range AND accuracy.
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 7, 2014 15:58:16 GMT
would bicycle balance be adaptable to kids? I know we had huge debates on the old board about the mechanics of riding a bicycle - would there be something about it we could adapt to let kids test it? perhaps a test of gyroscopic precession, using a bike fitted with skis, one with standard wheels, and one with heavy wheels?
|
|
|
Post by Cybermortis on Aug 7, 2014 17:41:45 GMT
Maybe wearing a helmet - some people claim that a cycle helmet doesn't help or isn't needed. Maybe an artificial head with clear ballistics gel flesh covering? They could make a couple and drop them onto concrete surfaces with and without a helmet.
Low key, but they could involve the kids in the making of the 'busters' - maybe use them as the model for the head and they could certainly pour the gel into a mold. Come to think of it they might even be able to design a rig that would allow a fake bike to be moved along a track, allowing for a drop test at speed rather than stationary. If this could be powered by a bike they could let the kids jump on that bike to act as the power source. Even if that is impractical they could run some speed tests with kids on bikes to see what the average speed of a kid on a bike is for testing.
*Edit*
One of the things I noted about the young scientists special was that the kids couldn't get all that directly involved in either the builds or the testing - or at least the younger kids couldn't. This type of test would seem suitable for all ages, as it places them at no risk and they could be involved in at least part of any build.
|
|
|
Post by OziRiS on Aug 7, 2014 20:24:01 GMT
Maybe wearing a helmet - some people claim that a cycle helmet doesn't help or isn't needed. Maybe an artificial head with clear ballistics gel flesh covering? They could make a couple and drop them onto concrete surfaces with and without a helmet. Low key, but they could involve the kids in the making of the 'busters' - maybe use them as the model for the head and they could certainly pour the gel into a mold. Come to think of it they might even be able to design a rig that would allow a fake bike to be moved along a track, allowing for a drop test at speed rather than stationary. If this could be powered by a bike they could let the kids jump on that bike to act as the power source. Even if that is impractical they could run some speed tests with kids on bikes to see what the average speed of a kid on a bike is for testing. *Edit* One of the things I noted about the young scientists special was that the kids couldn't get all that directly involved in either the builds or the testing - or at least the younger kids couldn't. This type of test would seem suitable for all ages, as it places them at no risk and they could be involved in at least part of any build. And they could let them drop the heads off the side of M5's roof. Just as a reward for helping out Adding to that test: Are skateboard helmets as good as bicycle helmets? I see a lot of kids riding their bikes with those skateboard helmets on instead of bicycle helmets these days. Maybe even go one up and test different designs of helmet. Are the full "eggshell" types better than the "aerodynamic" Tour de France types with all the holes in them, is it the other way around or is the difference negligible? There are enough helmet manufacturers that make similar designs to test them without them being identifiable to the public at large as coming from a specific manufacturer (they'd have to test helmets of similar design from different manufacturers to make sure the results can be claimed "universal" for the design type and not just specific to one manufacturer). They could also paint all the helmets of the same design type the same color to make even more sure no one could identify the manufacturer, which would then take us out of the realm of product testing and into the realm of design principle testing.
|
|
|
Post by Cybermortis on Aug 7, 2014 23:03:36 GMT
They could probably make cycle helmets in the shop if they had to. The materials are common and the designs are not that complex. I like the idea of adding skateboards (and those scooters kids have) to bikes, although I *think* the helmets themselves are basically the same thing. However it would add to what tests they could conduct with the same basic rig. *Muses* If they did go with a simple pulley-rig, and assuming that they would most likely be working with kids no younger than 8-10 years old. There may be a fairly decent chance that the kids might be allowed to help out with that part of the build too. **** OK, two possible ideas that not only seem practical to do but practical to do with kids being actively involved. Both ideas also seem to have the potential to be tested in several ways, which gives them lots of options when they decide exactly what to do. I think that we'd need at least one more idea, ideally another two or three, before this would be entirely practical for a show - they'd need several in case one doesn't catch their eye, proved impractical for some reason and of course because we don't know exactly how many kids they would consider or have in such an episode (I *think* they had five kids in the Young Scientist Special...Come to think of it it might be fun for them to have five kids on the show, as each of them could dress up as one of the cast. This would mean that they could stand in front of the cast and have their picture taken. Both as a memento of the day and as something that could be used for advertising). To reiterate. This is based on a comment Jamie made at the Com-Con Panel about working with kids, and the Young Scientist Special episode that was aired several years ago. I'm thinking of only a few kids, selected by whatever means MB judge best - those who've won awards for science would make the most sense of course. I'm also thinking that unlike the prior episode the myths in this one should be things that the kids can be much more actively involved in, and have much more fun with. First time around the younger kids didn't really get to do much, so it would be nice to make them feel much closer to being part of the cast. Other considerations for this of course would be the amount of time the kids could be on screen (there are legal limits to how much 'work' the kids could do) as well as how much time they would be available - Jamie noted that the average episode takes two weeks to film - one week for builds and setup and a week of filming. Unless they film during the school holidays it is unlikely that the kids would be available for that length of time, and any that come from outside the SF area would need to be put up in a hotel which costs money. These are of course production issues. But if we can keep them in mind it not only makes it much easier for the production team but also makes such an episode far more tempting. *Cracks Knuckles* Come on, you guys managed to do the near impossible and find valid ideas for Star Wars...and those ideas have spawned not one but apparently two episodes*. Finding myths for kids should be easy. (*It was confirmed during the panel that they had/have done a Star Wars 2. It has not been confirmed in any way what-do-ever what they tested in the second one. However given the fairly limited number of possible myths from the franchise to date chances seem fairly good that the ideas they picked must have come from the list TC members drew up.)
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 8, 2014 0:25:14 GMT
the pulley rig is simple - two bicycles with a belt between them - use the belt to drive the helmet cart.
|
|
|
Post by OziRiS on Aug 8, 2014 0:32:04 GMT
I'm thinking that in addition to having kids on the show, how about going for myths that kids these days believe? Kind of a "Mythbusters for kids by kids" theme. Children educating other children, as it were. Passing on the torch of critical thinking by applying the scientific method.
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 8, 2014 4:55:58 GMT
I'm thinking that in addition to having kids on the show, how about going for myths that kids these days believe? Kind of a "Mythbusters for kids by kids" theme. Children educating other children, as it were. Passing on the torch of critical thinking by applying the scientific method. exactly- so what do kids believe? my nieces are not great candidates for this, because they think of things like whether frozen electrolyte is more or less conductive than unfrozen electrolyte.
|
|
|
Post by OziRiS on Aug 8, 2014 14:43:23 GMT
Well, you could do the one I once tested with my kid. Does tapping the top of a shaken soda can prevent it from spraying you when you open it?
I see plenty of kids doing that to each and every soda can they get their hands on, shaken or not, simply because their parents do it and they have no reason to believe it doesn't work.
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 8, 2014 15:00:24 GMT
Well, you could do the one I once tested with my kid. Does tapping the top of a shaken soda can prevent it from spraying you when you open it? I see plenty of kids doing that to each and every soda can they get their hands on, shaken or not, simply because their parents do it and they have no reason to believe it doesn't work. excellent idea. I believe we've already gone in-depth with this on another thread, as well. maybe when I have some free time I'll look for it to link it.
|
|
|
Post by OziRiS on Aug 8, 2014 19:39:00 GMT
Well, you could do the one I once tested with my kid. Does tapping the top of a shaken soda can prevent it from spraying you when you open it? I see plenty of kids doing that to each and every soda can they get their hands on, shaken or not, simply because their parents do it and they have no reason to believe it doesn't work. excellent idea. I believe we've already gone in-depth with this on another thread, as well. maybe when I have some free time I'll look for it to link it. I'll go ahead and do that for you, since I'm the one who made the thread and know exactly where it is Test it yourself: Tapping the soda can
|
|
|
Post by ironhold on Aug 8, 2014 21:25:34 GMT
I think the tests should have both range AND accuracy. Plus technique. For flat papers, you're supposed to fling them like a discus so as to keep the broad, flat side out of the wind... hence why I cannot do a flat fold, as I'd have to throw them level with my shoulders in a quick "snapping" action. However, rolled papers can be thrown underhand in addition to a discus spin, but at the cost of a degree of control and accuracy. Plus, we have the issues of rolling and bouncing upon landing.
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 9, 2014 0:32:38 GMT
I think the tests should have both range AND accuracy. Plus technique. For flat papers, you're supposed to fling them like a discus so as to keep the broad, flat side out of the wind... hence why I cannot do a flat fold, as I'd have to throw them level with my shoulders in a quick "snapping" action. However, rolled papers can be thrown underhand in addition to a discus spin, but at the cost of a degree of control and accuracy. Plus, we have the issues of rolling and bouncing upon landing. thanks for finding the soda can thread - they can have the kids operate a special shaker, too, for more interaction. - and they can add in the soda in the paint shaker myth for a bonus minimyth. for the newspaper, now I wonder what result you would get if you threw a rolled paper like a football - besides the fact that you couldn't do it from a car and would have a hard time doing it from a bicycle.
|
|
|
Post by ironhold on Aug 9, 2014 1:48:49 GMT
In my town, we have several houses with fences and gates surrounding the properties. These fences - usually off-the-shelf chain link - are just tall enough to where unless you're in a tall vehicle you're not going to get the paper over it unless you get out anyway.
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 9, 2014 1:53:47 GMT
In my town, we have several houses with fences and gates surrounding the properties. These fences - usually off-the-shelf chain link - are just tall enough to where unless you're in a tall vehicle you're not going to get the paper over it unless you get out anyway. or lob
|
|
|
Post by Cybermortis on Aug 9, 2014 2:03:02 GMT
OK, three ideas;
'Paper throw' (Perfect idea)
'Bike helmets' (A little more complex, and might not be considered a true myth since the evidence is out there - to which the counter argument would be that kids only get told why they should wear them, rather than being shown.)
'Shaking Soda' (A mini myth, or collection of mini myths. Would be suitable for doing with kids actively involved - in fact they could probably do practically all of the testing with the cast being there purely to supervise in case of problems.)
Still think we need another couple that could be added to the list. I'd say that they don't have to be too specific to kids directly, as long as the myths would be safe enough to allow kids to take part in the testing and ideally at least some of any build that might be required. (No one would expect, or for that matter allow, an eight year old to weld steel tubing together. But helping design and put, say, a chain in a rig might be allowed.)
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 9, 2014 2:29:30 GMT
It would take getting some specialized equipment, but how about the movie myth of kids driving a car with one on the floor with the pedals and the other steering. - obviously, by specialized equipment, I mean a simulator.
|
|