Comments on: Episode 121: Thermite vs. Ice

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:06:40 +0000

Gotta agree with this one. I wondered why they never tried “thumping” as opposed to a steady tone.

By: adrian

adrian — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:42:50 +0000

what audio equipment was used the the car? i know it was all mtx but what amps and speakers where used?

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:42:47 +0000

I am skeptical of the confirmation of fingers being blown off:
1. A chicken’s bones have thinner walls than a human’s and are more brittle.
2. There need to be tendons and ligaments holding the hand together.
3. The confirming shot was taken with the thumb in a position that would be very difficult to attain in real life. The position was chosen to maximize the effects of the blast.
4. The thumb was tied to the barrel of the gun so that there could be no reflex action.

By: RICK

RICK — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:22:09 +0000

In the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy in San Angelo. TX at Goodfellow AFB we were taught about an explosion much like what some of you have mentioned. It’s called a BLEVE (Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion ) they can be some of the most destructive of all explosions. Think burning propane tank BOOM ! From a former Army Fire Fighter

By: madhamster

madhamster — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:12:43 +0000

i think it was Taurus Raging Bull Model 500, .500 S&W Magnum Revolver http://www.gunblast.com/images/Taurus_500/Mvc-773f.jpg

By: Raoul

Raoul — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:54:56 +0000

Greetings!
The reason for the explosion is the violent change in volume from solid to gas.

One mol of water has a volume of 22.4 liters.
One mol of water weighs 18 grams
Each pound of water (450 grams) equates 450 / 18 = 25 mols and when converted to gas, a volume of 560 liters (= 19.8 cubic feet).
This, at room temperature… At the reaction temperature, say 1,750 degrees Kelvin this volume increases 5.9 times, with a total of 3,300 liters or 117 cubic feet…!!!
And this from a pound of water…
Finally, the explosion comes the violent expansion of the ice –> water –> steam.

This same principe is used in guns… In a bullet, the powder ignites, freeing an enormous amount of gas that impulses the tip of the bullet through the barrel…

Elementary, my dear MythBusters…

Best regards!
Raoul

By: jimmie

jimmie — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:59:14 +0000

dear myth busters it would b interesting 4 u guys to do a episode on slam fire guns peferbly in the saturday night special catagory . the weapons in ? should b hipoint 9mm and jimenez 9mm . thanks

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 29 May 2010 07:39:00 +0000

I need to add that the original story was that the rifle was in the back of the car. Misfires can occur on the firing line or anywhere else for that matter.But, there is always a reason why.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 29 May 2010 07:32:06 +0000

I agree that the SKS issue is due solely to a dirty or gritty bolt with a free floating firing pin. As the vibrations increased the pin could “walk up” due to grit to a exposed point that would impact the primer. Slam fires and full auto misfires have occurred with SKS rifles, both Russian and Chinese. Murray’s Gun Company makes a drop in spring loaded firing pin that will alleviate the problem. However, maintaining a weapon and knowing how it functions is something that not everyone does and is aware of. The fact that a round was in the chamber that caused the original misfire just illustrates the stupidity of the person that was involved.

By: My2cents

My2cents — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:54:08 +0000

I’m with the sublimation explanation, but with a few tweaks.

When the thermite penetrates the bottom of the bucket it is initially as a small jet. Look at the video with the plates and you can see this, it is also why the hole in the plates is so small. This creates a cavity in the ice that the larger mass of thermite can fall into when the bottom of the bucket fails. This both increasing the contact surface between thermite and the ice and supplies a space for the steam pressure to build up in until the inertia of the ice is overcome. The effect is the same as an exploding pressure cooker, just much faster.

If they want to investigate this further, they could recreate it but put sand in the bucket and different weight charges of black powder in a cavity in the ice until they approximate the thermite on ice explosion.