Mythbusters Season 1 Episode 7 - Penny Drop, Deadly Microwaves, Radio Tooth Fillings

MythBusters: The Falling Penny Myth

The episode delves into testing the myth of a falling penny from the Empire State Building, exploring its potential speed and impact.

Investigating the Penny's Terminal Velocity

• Adam and Jamie aim to determine a penny's terminal velocity by conducting experiments.

• Adam jumps out of an airplane to observe how pennies fall at high speeds.

• Testing in a wind tunnel reveals that a penny's top speed can reach up to 100 kilometers per hour.

Experiment Setup and Execution

• Jamie works on firing a penny at high speed while Adam prepares a dummy head for impact testing.

• Jamie modifies a staple gun to launch the penny towards a concrete block for measurement.

Conclusion and Findings

Foreign Penny Myth Investigation

In this section, Adam and Jamie set out to test the myth that a penny dropped from the Empire State Building could embed itself in concrete or cause harm.

Rigging Up the Penny Firing Device

• Adam and Jamie create a penny firing device to test the myth.

• The rig can fire a penny at about 65 miles per hour, close to the upper limit of its terminal velocity.

• Jamie's approach involves simple solutions that may seem unconventional but are effective.

Testing Impact on Various Surfaces

This segment focuses on testing the impact of a high-speed penny on different surfaces.

Firing Full-Size Penny

• Modifying the gun to fire a full-size penny with similar speed as a real one.

Impact Testing on Ballistics Dummy

The team conducts tests on a ballistics dummy to simulate potential injuries caused by a high-speed penny.

Testing Impact on Ballistics Dummy

• Adam creates a head mold for testing using ballistics gel and a skull model.

• The test shows that while the penny breaks through gel, it does not harm the skull, indicating limited damage potential.

Human Flesh Impact Test

Volunteers test how a high-speed penny impacts live flesh.

Human Flesh Impact Test

• Volunteers attempt catching high-speed pennies with their hands without significant injury.

Ultimate Speed Damage Assessment

Assessing how fast a penny must travel to cause serious damage.

Final Damage Assessment

• Despite various tests, including impact on asphalt, concrete, and ballistics dummy, no significant damage is observed.

Experimenting with High-Speed Projectile

Exploring the use of firearms to propel pennies at high speeds for potential damage assessment.

High-Speed Projectile Experiment

The Speed of a Penny vs. a Bullet

The team tests the impact of a penny at supersonic speed compared to that of a bullet, debunking myths about the penny's potential lethality.

Testing Penny Impact

• The result shows the penny travels at 3000 feet per second, akin to a bullet's speed but fails to embed in the block.

• A penny lacks sufficient kinetic energy at its weight to cause damage like a real bullet.

• Even when accelerated three times the speed of sound, the penny remains non-lethal and harmless to bones or tissue.

Microwave Myths: Tanning Bed Tales

Exploring urban legends surrounding microwave ovens and tanning beds, MythBusters investigates popular myths for scientific validation.

Microwave Urban Legends

• Microwaves attract numerous urban myths, prompting MythBusters to test prevalent beliefs.

• The infamous myth involving a wet poodle in a microwave is examined through Jazzy, a show poodle groomed for testing.

• A widespread myth narrates fatal consequences from excessive tanning bed use resembling microwave cooking; various versions persist over time.

Debunking Tanning Bed as Microwave Oven

Adam and Jamie conduct experiments to dispel misconceptions linking tanning beds with microwave ovens.

Tanning Bed Experiment

• Dead chickens are subjected to four tanning sessions without adverse effects, disproving claims of internal cooking akin to microwaves.

Microwave Myths and Experiments

In this section, Adam and Jamie explore various myths and experiments related to microwaves, debunking misconceptions and testing the boundaries of microwave safety.

Jamie's Microwave Experiments

• Jamie expresses his fascination with microwaves, aiming to create a powerful microwave gun for heating objects in his shop.

• Concerns arise about Jamie's plan to build a super microwave without proper shielding, raising safety issues.

• The MythBusters decide to test the myth that microwaving metal causes explosions, highlighting common misconceptions about microwaves.

Testing Microwave Myths

Adam and Jamie delve into testing myths surrounding microwaves, focusing on the effects of microwaving metal objects.

Microwaving Metal Objects

• The team tests whether microwaving metal objects leads to explosions or dangerous outcomes.

• Experimenting with items like spoons and forks in the microwave reveals no significant hazards or explosive reactions.

• Observations show that crumpled tin foil can create sparks due to electric charges building up in the metal.

Water Superheating Experiment

Adam and Jamie investigate the potential dangers of superheated water in a microwave oven.

Superheated Water Test

• The duo explores the myth of water exploding when superheated in a microwave, emphasizing safety concerns.

• By conducting experiments with distilled and tap water, they demonstrate how superheating can lead to violent boiling reactions.

Building a Super Microwave Machine

Jamie constructs a unique microwave setup to test its efficiency compared to regular microwaves.

Testing Efficiency

• Jamie unveils his "super duper" microwave machine aimed at heating water faster than conventional microwaves.

The Microwave Myth: Lucille Ball's Radio Teeth

In this section, the MythBusters team explores the myth surrounding Lucille Ball's radio teeth and investigates whether it is possible to receive radio transmissions through dental fillings.

Investigating Lucille Ball's Radio Teeth

• Lucille Ball reportedly heard music in her mouth, leading to the myth of radio transmissions through dental fillings.

• Buster Keaton suggested that radio signals could be picked up by dental fillings based on location and metal fillings.

• The team plans an experiment with a skull, different fillings, a radio transmitter, and a voltmeter to test this theory.

Obtaining Equipment and Skull

• Adam searches for a human skull with fillings for the experiment.

• After challenges, Adam secures a skull from his father with some dental work done.

Testing Radio Transmission Theory

• A practicing dentist expresses skepticism about picking up sounds or signals from dental fillings.

• Jim Broshu, Lucy's friend, confirms her sound mental state but acknowledges her frequent dental visits.

Radio Transmissions Experiment

This section delves into Adam's quest for a radio transmitter and the setup of the experiment to test if radio signals can be received through dental fillings.

Acquiring Radio Transmitter

• Adam faces challenges in obtaining equipment due to restrictions on powerful AM frequencies.

• Adam visits a swap meet for electronics gear and constructs a Faraday cage to shield interference during tests.

Testing Fillings as Diodes

• The Faraday cage successfully blocks outside signals during testing.

• Different metal fillings may act as diodes similar to early crystal radios using point contact diodes like razor blades and pencil leads.

Gold Foil Experiment Setup

• Gold foil is added to one tooth alongside an amalgam filling inside the Faraday cage.

The Myth of Radio Signals in Teeth Fillings

In this section, the myth that metal fillings in a person's teeth can receive radio signals is explored through experiments and historical anecdotes.

Frank Houseman's Experiment

• Frank Houseman, an expert in electronics and computer network engineering, conducts an experiment injecting AM radio signals into a Faraday cage with no change in voltage on the voltmeter.

Testing Fillings as Radio Receivers

• Despite theories suggesting fillings could act as diodes to pick up radio signals, no change in voltage is observed during the test.

Lucille Ball's Experience

• Lucille Ball's encounter with perceiving Morse code through her fillings is recounted, sparking interest in the phenomenon.

Galvanic Reaction Theory

The theory of galvanic reactions causing perceived radio signals through dental fillings is examined.

Galvanic Reaction Explanation

• The concept of dissimilar metals in fillings generating electric current akin to a battery is discussed.

Recreating Lucy's Mouth Environment

• Adam and Jamie simulate Lucy's mouth conditions by placing teeth in vinegar to test for galvanic reactions.

Debunking the Myth

The myth of metal fillings acting as rudimentary radios is debunked through scientific testing.

Conclusion: Busted Myth