Comments on: Episode 64: More Myths Revisited

By: Jack Rowe

Jack Rowe — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 06:41:41 +0000

They should have tried a Moro Kris or Filipino Kris. Accounts from Filipino-American war states that a Moro wielded his Kris easily cuts a Springfield rifle barrel in half.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:39:52 +0000

However Geralds car cannot haul or tow anything like the mythbusters truck can.

By: bingo

bingo — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:23:09 +0000

Gerald’s car would have a catalitic converter, all new european cars have been fitted with them since the early 90′s.

So NO European cars don’t pollute anywhere near as much as the rubbish the US sells. In this case its around 75% less.

More :sarcasm:

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:00:42 +0000

It seems this revisit may need more revisiting. When the mythbusters decided to reduce the size of the nozzle, they needed to do additional control tests with ONLY N20. So that they are comparing apples to apples. You have say 3000psi in that tank, if you blow it out through a 1 inch opening or a 3/8″ opening you will get a significant difference in thrust. (Think of your garden hose, you have consistent pressure from your plumbing, with an open hose there is no noticeable reverse thrust on the hose, then restrict it with your thumb and notice the difference)

Like others, i’m not convinced the salami was burning at all, rather by reducing the nozzle size they were only increasing the thrust from the N2O

By: Aaron B.

Aaron B. — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:32:34 +0000

The fact that the salami was not consumed is evident by the fact that it was spread around the area where they did the test. My personal theory is that they decreased the nozzle size and increased the pressure inside the cylinder. Propulsion would be increased by the increase in pressure, but it simply forces bits of salami out the nozzle.

AN interesting experiment would be to heat dried salami in a chamber and see if you get a combustible material from it. Then use that material to fuel a small rocket.

By: Elijah B.

Elijah B. — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:39:59 +0000

SALAMI ROCKET:
One thing I still wanted to see in the Salami Rocket Revisit, and that wasn’t shown, was an inspection of the cylinder to ensure that the salami had actually been consumed in the firing. If we had seen that there was still a salami in the cylinder then it would be easily established the test was a failure; likewise, if the salami had been consumed the myth would have been confirmed in a way that would satisfy everyone. The results from the force gauge are not sufficient on there own.

Another good test would have been with the chemical alone that is in the salami that is supposed to be the active ingredient that does the reacting.

If my suspicion is correct and that the salami was still not consumed in the rocket firing revisit, then a new design for the rocket, with a more definite smoldering of the salami established before the later release of Nitrous Oxide in a more restricted flow would do much to remove all doubt about their results.

Instead of complaining when people point out errors in their methodology and implying that fans are a bunch of whingers, the Mythbusters would do well to think through more of their possible errors. To paraphrase an old saying, ‘Scientific testing not only has to be done, but must be seen to be done’. Anticipating the questions people will ask afterward would save them a lot of messing about with revisits.

Personally, I don’t believe that the salami was actually consumed in the firing (remember, the cylinder wasn’t inspected on screen to see if the salami was still there, or even partly consumed), because there is too much water content in a salami to sustain the burning or smoldering necessary without first being pre-dried. If this myth is ever revisited they really need to show an inspection of the cylinder to remove ALL doubt.

By: Reginhild

Reginhild — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:28:31 +0000

P.S.: SAE and SEMA tests did show that typically tailgate down or off is bad. The SAE testing also showed that the mesh tailgate had the worst effect on aerodynamics – the opposite of Mythbuster results.

I’m going to have to look into joe’s comment above. Did Mythbusters incorrectly measure fuel consumption?

By: Reginhild

Reginhild — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:06:55 +0000

Truck tailgate tests only partially correct.

Check the full scientific tests by SEMA and SAE. There are variables to consider on the tailgate, mesh, and tonneau testing such as bed length.

SAE found that 8 ft beds can benefit from tailgate down but not off. They also found that crosswinds make a difference.

Both SEMA and SAE testing found that tonneaus improve aerodynamics. Reduction in drag with a tonneau has increasing effect between 40 and 65 mph (beneficial effect remains fairly constant above 65 mph) but little to no effect below 40 mph.

By: ken

ken — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:37:43 +0000

Silly waste of time test. The USMC used Johnson MGs in the early Pacific War, not air-cooled Brownings. They got the Browning much later in the war. The Johnson had a really thin barrel and the sword may indeed cut it.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:33:29 +0000

Did anyone notice in the re-visited Salami rocket episode that they kept incorrectly referring to Nitrous as NOx or NO2? Irritating…