Comments on: Episode 105: Viral Hour

By: Garrett

Garrett — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:53:39 +0000

You should throw a box of 50.cal tracers into a fire and see what happens

By: XTIAN170174

XTIAN170174 — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:15:08 +0000

‘Thrustierness’

I’d like to know, based on the viral vid “car lift” – Using detachable high pressure hoses (as altitude is gained the hoses break off as pumping ceases)…

…Water recycled through a huge reservoir, pumped at very high pressure – on a scale with a hydroelectric dam, although modelled to create and confirm/dispel myth.

If this lift is sufficient to supplement rocket launch, and the fuel being expended could make the steam ‘explosive’ and gives further thrust that is exploited by the design of the craft, then missions could become significantly less expensive, and with less fuel to carry – safer.

Could Mythbusters do an entry level experiment?

By: Ted

Ted — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:56:00 +0000

Yes, and this experiment was done by an astronaut during one of the moon landings with a feather and a hammer.

By: oz1

oz1 — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:47:38 +0000

WRONG!!! I.ve seen it done with flour, custard powder, talc. As long as it is in a fine enough cloud, it can burn!!

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:53:07 +0000

In practical terms, no, Oxygen is not “flammable”. Go read any MSDS sheet on Oxygen and the flammability sections will be listed as “N/A”. It only forms one part of the three parts required for fire: Fuel, Heat and Oxygen. It is however a “Hazardous Oxydizer” and because of its potential to rapidly accelerate combustion, should be treated as if it were.

Also, I’ve never tried powdered rock or talc but I do know from personal experimentation that steel powder and steel wool burns nicely with a normal flame when provided just a little more Oxygen than is normally present in the atmosphere.

Of course, steel is sensitive to oxydation. It rusts. Maybe that’s the key, not the “flammability” of the powder’s source. If it oxydizes, it can burn.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:21:21 +0000

Creamer is made of flammable substances like casein, sugar, and oil. Powdered rock, talc, etc. is NOT flammable. Only flammable substances are flammable when made into a fine powder.

By: Mister Whirly

Mister Whirly — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:51:29 +0000

Darlene-

It isn’t the creamer itself that is flammable – it is the fact the particles are so fine and small. Any fine powder is flammable.

By: Dukemd69

Dukemd69 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:23:40 +0000

I have personally witnessed sparks emitted from an electrical outlet and a ceiling fixture during a thunderstorm. The former occurrence actually ignited curtains hanging over it. Did lightning cause these phenomena? Was this from poor grounding of the “lightning rod”?

By: Marc Barrett

Marc Barrett — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:53:29 +0000

Not a brick and a feather, but a hammer and a feather, in a vacuum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C5_dOEyAfk

By: darlene

darlene — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:34:30 +0000

I want to know more about why coffee creamer is explosive. Not being aware of this previously, I now question whether I should be swallowing it in my morning cup ‘o joe! And should I be keeping it away from my gas range??? – No warning on the label…..