To actually gauge any kind of result from a somewhat limited range of experimentation into Tesla’s earth quake machine (and in consideration of the result on the bridge after ‘just’ 60 minutes) indicates to me that contrary to the ‘Busted’ conclusion there is truth behind Tesla’s claims and with further refinement and experimentation I have no doubt in my mind that the results that Tesla himself described would be achieved.

I enjoy MythBusters, however when you’re watching the program you have keep in mind that you are in fact watching an entertainment show and not a scientific documentary. I have allot of respect for what they manage to achieve with the limitations of their budget, resource and time scale and I wouldn’t be surprised if that one I saw a news paper headline saying that they’d managed to prove something really profound even if in the slap dash manor of the nature of the show. Government conspiracy with-holding of course!

I personally couldn’t imagine how thrustrating it must be to have to draw a conclusion on a topic or experiment knowing that there is far more research that needs to be done but due to time, money constraints and pressure from my producer, I’ve had to make a conclusion that deep down I know could be wrong.

I think that you’d have to have allot of strength of character to be able to do that and move on to the next myth. So where as there is always room for criticism in the method, I think that sometimes we pass judgment harshly when it should be offered with the appropriate respect.

There have been several suggestions as to why the Mythbusters might have failed where Tesla succeeded. I have my own theories. But, I’d just as soon NOT teach those who can’t figure it out for themselves, how to destroy buildings and bridges.

– as disinfo agents working for the government.

Of course they are not going to be allowed to prove earthquakes can be caused by the government. Too many people as it is are realising that’s being done.

They didn’t replicate the circumstances. In fact, even with Adam’s enthusiasm for Tesla, it seemed to me he hadn’t actually read Tesla’s full account !

Here’s what they missed. Tesla’s lab was on the top floor of a converted fire house.

So, yes, it had that four story long brass pole the firemen used to slide down.

And THAT is where Tesla mounted his oscillator.

The brass pole acted as a giant spring. Every time the oscillator struck the pole, the pressure wave travelled down the pole, and most of the force reflected back up again.

Match the frequency of the pole, (easy to calculate) and the pole will begin to flex, storing the energy, and gradually increasing the amplitude.

Adam and Jamie made a LAME mockup of the firehouse out of some metal shelving.

Sigh.

The bridge experiment was slightly less lame, but still, it didn’t replicate Tesla’s work.

They bolted their actuator to a horizontal beam, on a bridge designed by engineers to absorb and dissipate vibration.

That’s a far cry from bolting it to a vertical brass pole in an old building made of brick and mortar.

And they could have done so much better. A steel flagpole, some concrete, and a couple hundred bricks would have been a lot closer to the original.

That same six pound actuator bolted to the top of a flagpole would have demonstrated the principle.

Tesla let his experiment run for hours. Energy slowly built up in the brass pole, which made for an excellent kinetic storage device.

All that time, he tested different frequencies until he hit the resonant frequency of the firehouse.

Windows across the street cracked. China rattled on shelves. And when Tesla realized the building was trembling, he smashed the actuator.

I hope Adam and Jamie re-do this experiment more accurately. This kind of slap-dash approach is embarrassing.

Generally speaking: the “myth busters” should go back to school.
A decent course in HSC physics will help them with basic weaknesses.