MythBusters Episode 88: "Trail Blazers"
Air Date: October 31, 2007
If the trail of gas from the leaking gas tank of a moving vehicle is lit, the fire can catch up to the tank and blow up the car.
busted
Through small scale tests, the MythBusters discovered that gas burns at just over 3 miles per hour, which is as fast as a brisk walk. Next, they lit leaking gas trails from both a remote control car and a regular pickup, and the flame did not catch up to either. A car going at the low speed of 20 miles per hour could easily outrun the stream of fire. Finally, they let the gas catch up to the tank, and it did not explode. In order to create an explosion, the Mythbusters filled the tank with enough gasoline to get an ideal fuel/air mixture for combustion. Even so, they could not make the gas tank explode so this myth was completely busted.
One can outrun a trail of burning gunpowder and kick the trail out before the burning powder reaches its explosive destination.
confirmed
In large scale testing, an even trail of gunpowder was laid out on a plywood floor. Adam outran the fire and kicked out the trail with plenty of time to spare. Jamie gave it a shot, but Adam hindered his attempt and the powder reached the end. The tests showed that the igniting gunpowder did not move very fast, with Adam showing that a brisk walk is enough to overtake the flame. The team finished by blowing up a keg of gunpowder. Adam called this explosion “the best we’ve ever done”.
A defibrillator can burn someone if the electricity arcs with an underwire bra.
plausible
Though the bra did cause a burn, it was only when the wire was exposed and the paddles were placed very close together and close to the exposed wire. This would not be likely in normal circumstances as the paddles would never be placed so closely together and medical staff are trained to remove possible obstructions before using a defibrillator.
A defibrillator can burn someone if the electricity arcs with a nipple piercing.
plausible
Though the nipple piercing did cause a severe burn, it was only when the paddles were placed very close together and close to the piercing. This would not be likely in normal circumstances as the paddles would never be placed so close together and medical staff are trained to remove possible obstructions before using a defibrillator.
So, why didn’t you just get your EMT pals to bring an AED, or other real defibrillator? A quibble.
EMTs have trauma scissors to cut bras, and would. I would have to vote for Busted.
I have heard of medical staff knocked off their feet when the defibrillator is activated, and they are still touching the patient after being ordered to “clear.”
November 30, 2007 at 11:01 PMi not speak english but i very like this program but in discovery no have new episodes please new episodes in discovery
December 8, 2007 at 8:32 AMMARRY ME KARI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 8, 2007 at 12:37 PMqwioeuqwjrmewdfnsakflehweruieq,wrnwedjklwdnjweklfwehuiwetnweriflnefjwklmdfnjerkugrukhwefnwijfndfmew,jutrweuirehwlreiufnsdjkfndkmwfeniqweurhweuirhqourhwoeirhfdfn,skdfndms,fnsdkuhweirhweuorweorhewurhiwufndkjsndjkfnuweirhsdfnkjdsnfdmksfuewirhew!!!
Can you figure out the pattern and figure out the sentence????
December 8, 2007 at 12:40 PMWas the gunpowder modern smokeless nitro or was it black powder??
December 17, 2007 at 9:03 PMhey kari just wanna say that i think ur really beutifull and i hav a big high school crush on u and would love 4 u to email me plzzzzzzz @ fuzee@webmail.co.za
December 19, 2007 at 3:36 PMoh yes i 4got to say im from south africa and my friends say i blush like a girl evry time i c u on tv
December 19, 2007 at 3:40 PMHey Busters, my name is Danielle and i’m 13. I have an interesting myth I think would be intesting to prove or disprove. An Italian myth I found by trying to find a myth for my Destination Imagination team states that a long time ago a tarantulla spider would only bite a poor GIRL-tarantata-not sure if I spelled it right-(not of wealth or aristocratic upbringing) Sounds silly right? Well stay with me… the girl would go into a trance. To cure it, towns people would gather up with musical instruments and play different beats, each beat would cause her to go into different frenzied dances. If they found the right beat she would be cured, if not she was doomed. Ok ok I admit it’s crazy and it hasn’t been proved… but it hasn’t been busted! I know there are TONS of myths to bust but if you could find the time to prove it… I’d apreciate it! also I heard if you put salt on the tail of a bird it can’t fly. Try it, I’d like to know!
December 19, 2007 at 9:01 PMI sorry it is a long comment but thank you for your time!
hey kari its fuzee again i just wanted to no if its true that certain music can alter ur mood eg heavey metal makes u angry and slow/clisic music relaxes u . in my personal opinion wen ever i get really angry i listen to havey metal .eg slipknot and after a few songs i would always be calmer and stress free . could u plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz look into that
December 20, 2007 at 8:50 AMhy this is william can somone jump a fotbalfild?oh for the speeding car put all the things together.
December 31, 2007 at 2:49 PMskip the other one.what i ment was can you jump a footballfild on a motercycle? put all the ingredients for the speeding car on the license plate .
December 31, 2007 at 3:22 PMI believe Paul has a valid Point. Modern smokeless powder i significantly less reactive than original Black Powder. Having worked with the latter for several years, It might be prudent to test the difference at some point. As for the Defibrillator shock traveling through an underwire to shock someone, I know its rather possible. Usually this in combination with a wet person and one of the medical providers also being drenched. One of the EMT’s in one of my neighboring squads had this happen to him. No long term ill effects, just zapped a little from a hole in his shoe.
January 15, 2008 at 12:00 PMi tried to make the perfict bullet by meshuring the wate of the brass slug and powder perfict it took me about an hour to make all most two eyedenicl bullets and it was kinda windy when i shot them at about one hundred and fifty yards and i was hoping thay wher going to be atleast a half inch off but it was a bout four inchis off and i know i shot almost in the same place it had to be the wind right but any was can you try to make the perfict bullet and see what hapens but i know for top acurasy make shur your gun and scope are clean and use somting like sand bags to rest your gun on.
January 16, 2008 at 2:55 AMHi Danielle — You are probably thinking of an old Italian dance called the “tarantella”, which is in a fast 6-8 time. Apparently the folk people thought that this dance would cure the poisonous bite of a tarantula. Sorry, but it’s already busted. A tarantula isn’t even poisonous — It gives a nasty bite, but it’s not poisonous.
January 20, 2008 at 10:07 PMIn the leaking gas tank experiment I think it was Jamie who said something interesting about jet fuel. Is there a place to find transcripts for this episode? I could not find it online. Thanks. Great show!
March 10, 2008 at 8:45 PMDefibrillator myth - the experiment should have included a saline solution sprayed on the test body. If the person was sweating, the additional moisture would be conductive. Just a thought! Love the show - keep it up!!!
March 30, 2008 at 12:36 PMI have a problem with the gun powder being kicked out. You showed that a trail of powder just poured ramdomly burnt fast and a constent trail burnt slower. How many cowboy’s would have taken the time to measure the trail. You should have tried it by pouring a trail from a bag and then trying to out run it. I don’t think you’ll make it. Myth busted.
May 24, 2008 at 12:16 AMThe gun powder myth is incorrect. Try outrunning a line of FFF black powder which was used back in the day for muzzleloaders/muskets. Good luck.
July 24, 2008 at 3:12 PMi like these guys. they just HAD to blow up something didnt they??
August 7, 2008 at 3:21 AM