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Mythbuster's sux

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Originally posted by: FoBoT
the biggest problem with the snapped cable myth was the small size they tested

they needed to use MUCH larger cable/ropes
which of course would take much more force to snap, thus releasing more energy which would slice a pig in half

they were just being too whimpy and they don't really have the capacity to test 1" steel cable or 3" nylon mooring lines that large ships use


they did mess that one up, i agree
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Not only that but they didn't break the cables due to stress they cut the cable. If the cable failed due to stress it would move with a lot more force.

Also we know that a cable breaking can cut off a leg, so they should have tested their rig to see if they could get the same results.
 
Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: esun
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: esun
Where are you getting the information that a snapped cable whipped her feet off? Because that was the myth, not that a broken cable wrapped around your feet while moving could tear your feet off (that's kind of a "duh"). Actually, the myth was that a snapped cable could whip your body in half. I think they showed that was very unlikely. You're misinterpreting their intentions entirely.</end quote></div>

I saw the episode and it is the last one I will ever watch. I could put up with the "that did not work lets blow it up" part, but not this.

Let's go ask the people who were stationed on an aircraft carrier and got hit by a snapped cable. Oh wait you cannot. (BTW that was in like the 60's before they replaced the balls a lot more)</end quote></div>

Look, if you want to dispute it, just find documentation that says a man was cut in half by a snapped cable (I honestly don't know if this exists, and it may, showing their methodology was flawed). The myth was not that a snapped cable could injure or kill somebody. It was that it could cut a person in half. Again, just because they didn't test what you wanted them to test doesn't mean they lied to you.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Every news report has said that her feet were severed by the snapped cable.</end quote></div>

Look, if you can't figure out the difference between wrapping a cable around someone's foot and pulling them along at 80MPH versus cutting a taut cable and letting it whip around someone's stationary foot, then I'm not going to bother arguing with you.

EDIT: Sorry, even I've simplified their myth, which was that the cable could cut you in half (or rather, an adult human), not cut off a foot (of a child). Again, very different.</end quote></div>

umm you don't know what I am talking about.

I am not talking about any type of wrapping around, I am talking about a cable whipping around and slicing through someone. Go read about early aircraft accidents.
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Well since you brought that up, why don't YOU give us a link. Frankly I think your full of sh1t but hey, I have been wrong before.

I like Mythbuster

A lot
Of course you got to take everything they say with a grain of salt but it is good entertainment.
 
I am not talking about any type of wrapping around, I am talking about a cable whipping around and slicing through someone. Go read about early aircraft accidents.
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Maybe you got confused by the crappy quoting scheme, but the remark about the differences between a cable wrapped around someone and a cable slicing a person in two was directed at the individual that did have trouble telling the difference.

And I would love to read about those aircraft accidents involving a cable slicing someone in two. Do you have a link? If not, then I'll have to accept the conclusion that is cited in Wikipedia (which I'm sure a watching of the episode would corroborate), which is that "a 5/8" cable at 30,000 lbs of tension was unable to cut a pig in two (or even cut into it), but did cause potentially lethal injuries."

It's really easy to fight evidence with more evidence. You've provided much less than Mythbusters at this point.
 
Originally posted by: opticalmace
gimme a break. it's clearly just for entertainment. they're not submitting their conclusions to scientific journals.
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Exactly.

That being said, I worked with a guy who had one leg. His leg was severed when he was working on a barge dcok on the Missouri River in the 60's. They used cable to secure barges together at the dock and one snapped and swung around and took his leg off just above the knee.
 
I only watched a portion of that show and thought, "dumbasses." I only watch the show for entertainment. Well, I also watch the show because I know some of my current and future physics students will watch the show. I have to correct a lot of misconceptions that my students might pick up from the show.

For what it's worth, their methodology is equivalent to taking a bow and arrow, pulling it back 4 or 5 inches, and concluding that a bow cannot possibly propel an arrow through a sheet of plywood.

That is, unless they changed their methodology during the show. Did they ever stretch the cable until it snapped? Or did they cut the cable each time? For what it's worth, if you double the amount that the cable is stretched, you have roughly FOUR times as much energy stored in the cable.

They really need a few science people to consult with; maybe bring in Bill Nye to consult with them for 2 or 3 minutes each episode? That would be awesome. They could also use someone who could say, "hey, wait a minute guys. Before you conclude the "myth" is busted, perhaps you should realize it's not a "myth" - it's been documented as occurring in the past."
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
the biggest problem with the snapped cable myth was the small size they tested

they needed to use MUCH larger cable/ropes
which of course would take much more force to snap, thus releasing more energy which would slice a pig in half

they were just being too whimpy and they don't really have the capacity to test 1" steel cable or 3" nylon mooring lines that large ships use


they did mess that one up, i agree
Click to expand...

"Despite many anecdotal stories, they could not locate a single definitive case of someone being sliced in half by a cable. There have been plenty of fatalities, but no one sliced in half."
http://kwc.org/mythbusters/200...iller_cable_snaps.html

thats their statement, so i don't see the problem. sure with a big enough anything you can pretty much cause grevious harm, but they were probably using some reasonable more common cable.

"Cable Snap Test

They tested various cable sizes and configurations to try and cut the pig. The smaller cables potentially had more cutting ability, but the bigger cables had more tension.

* 3/8" cable (guy-wire for a radio tower or perhaps a hoisting situation): the cable sparked off the barrel and smacked the pig hard. It didn't cut into the pig, but it dealt a strong blow.
* 5/8" cable (40,000 lb. breaking strength): they were able to get it up to 30,000 lbs. of pressure. There was still no cut, but it left a strong indentation
* 3/16" cable attached to end of 5/8" cable (combine the cutting with the strength): not really different from previous tests.
* 3/16" cable looped around the pig and attached to 5/8" cable: the smaller cable cinched tight around the pig and crushed it, but there was no cutting

There still hadn't gotten anything close to slicing in half, so Adam went all out the replicate the result. They wrapped a pig around a drum with a cable and then pulled on the cable with the forklift. The cable had no trouble slicing the pig in half."
 
I can understand being annoyed with some of the stuff they do. It's clearly supposed to be just for entertainment, but they seem to want to project the appearance of their methods being scientifically sound. Several of their experiments are so haphazard and sloppy it was tough to watch. The one that bugs me the most was the episode where they "proved" sinking ship won't suck people down with it. Try telling that to the 45 people that died in Alaska ten years ago when their tanker went down. There's a public video that SHOWS them being sucked under.
 
Originally posted by: Agentbolt
I can understand being annoyed with some of the stuff they do. It's clearly supposed to be just for entertainment, but they seem to want to project the appearance of their methods being scientifically sound. Several of their experiments are so haphazard and sloppy it was tough to watch. The one that bugs me the most was the episode where they "proved" sinking ship won't suck people down with it. Try telling that to the 45 people that died in Alaska ten years ago when their tanker went down. There's a public video that SHOWS them being sucked under.
Click to expand...

The only thing that sinks with watching that show is the viewer's IQ.
 
Originally posted by: AlienCraft
they say not possible, I'll bet that girl on the carnival ride who lost her feet to a snapped cable might disagree.

The lightning traveling up a water pipe and electrocuting someone, they say not possible.... I would think the families of the 20 or so people that die annually might disagree.

They modify the "myth" to suit their own agenda.

Entertainment? sure.
Actual proof? debatable.

Annoying? Definitely
Click to expand...

Hey idiot

Your ankles are not the same thickness as your torso. It's also considerably easier to break your ankle than your spine/ribcage. Biology for the win.

The lightning traveling up a pipe and electrocuting someone definitely is not possible unless you're basically touching the pipe. Physics for the win.
 
This thread is a perfect example on why urban legends and myths never get debunked. They're always argued that they're true or not regardless of the evidence. You could have an encyclopedia dedicated to how "Cats do not always land on their feet" with 80 years of repeated scientific evidence... and people will still say cats always land on their feet.
 
this guy died, but i guess he didn't get chopped in half. but dead is dead
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/gm/moa/docs/ll0197.htm

this one has some figures on the force that broke the lines. but no details of chopped up peoples, just injuries and people knocked in the water by the line
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/...eaID=2&ReleaseID=30675

i found more at the following link. many injuries, including broken femurs but nobody chopped in half. many of the reports have figures as to the rated breaking point of the lines, it is many many times higher than the lines the MB tested and as pointed out, stretching is different than cutting. so I think when a mooring line parts, it is very dangerous, regardless of whether you end up chopped in half and dead or just dead

http://www.maib.gov.uk/publica...earch_publications.cfm
 
What about the one where they said speed cameras couldn't be beaten? LIE!

KTVU Channel 2 of the Bay Area reports that CalTrans loses at least $100k per month due to people failing to pay toll and their license plates not being captured on tape at the Bay Bridge. CalTrans even shows PHOTOS showing that they're unable to catch certain cars.

Then there's Top Gear which clearly got a car to beat the speed camera.

So now what?
 
As far as I know, neither of these guys has a background in science, just in special effects. I take every episode with a grain of salt.
 
Rope or Cable myth.
Click to expand...
We had EXTENSIVE training in the Navy regarding this issue, it is very dangerous and will kill you. Just like Viper posted, even ropes kill. BTW, was it Carl Braeshears(SP?) that had his leg nearly amputated on a Navy ship after one of his dives? They made a movie about it.

Lightning strikes.
Click to expand...
Had a lady using her stove and got electrocuted to unconsciousness in Vegas during a big storm. She only had her hand on one of the controls, and it was witnessed by the family. Again, I say true.


You have to take them with a grain of salt. Of course some of these are true and some are false, but they are all about entertaining these days. When they first started they were a bit more trustworthy.

My two cents.
 
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
http://www.snopes.com/photos/gruesome/disarmed.asp

And that was just rope, not cable.

Viper GTS
Click to expand...

Quote from your article:

The severing of the limbs was believed to have been caused by sheer rebounding force of the broken rope rather than the men's having wrapped the rope around their arms, as was sometimes reported.

This is hardly convincing evidence.
Where is your link about aircraft accidents?
 
Originally posted by: esun
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I am not talking about any type of wrapping around, I am talking about a cable whipping around and slicing through someone. Go read about early aircraft accidents.</end quote></div>

Maybe you got confused by the crappy quoting scheme, but the remark about the differences between a cable wrapped around someone and a cable slicing a person in two was directed at the individual that did have trouble telling the difference.

And I would love to read about those aircraft accidents involving a cable slicing someone in two. Do you have a link? If not, then I'll have to accept the conclusion that is cited in Wikipedia (which I'm sure a watching of the episode would corroborate), which is that "a 5/8" cable at 30,000 lbs of tension was unable to cut a pig in two (or even cut into it), but did cause potentially lethal injuries."

It's really easy to fight evidence with more evidence. You've provided much less than Mythbusters at this point.
Click to expand...

You realize the size and strength and tension an aircraft cable is subjected to when pulling in a jet right and the speeds involved? You cannot duplicate that on mythbusters (and they cut it). You want evidence you go search your beloved wikipedia that is all knowing, because you know guys in the Navy aren't subjected to this stuff all the time.


The person that said the IQ of mythbusters fans is well funny, I agree.


Stupid mythbuster fanboys, these are the types that actually write into the show.
 
Originally posted by: Atheus
Oh come on, it's funny, that's all it's supposed to be. It's like Top Gear - actual informative car reviews are not the main purpose of the show.
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Exactly. They are an entertainment TV show. Their methods are not exactly scientific, and they have a limited budget, both for time and money. Only being able to run one or two final tests on something, or only being able to build a single test rig due to budget constraints, will severely limit the "scientific" value of the findings. And the people doing the projects are hardly professional scientists, which was part of the show's original point: non-professionals doing this stuff for entertainment and if they happened to inject some science value into it, that's a bonus.
 
Mythbusters is for entertainment, there was an episode of Mythbusters where they failed to get an aerosol can to explode in a hot box.

Well, last summer a guy at work left in his car a can of air freshener next to the rear windshield, about 3pm it exploded shattering his rear windshield. IIRC the guy next to me said they prove on Mythbusters this could not happen. 🙂
 
They really need a few science people to consult with; maybe bring in Bill Nye to consult with them for 2 or 3 minutes each episode? That would be awesome. They could also use someone who could say, "hey, wait a minute guys. Before you conclude the "myth" is busted, perhaps you should realize it's not a "myth" - it's been documented as occurring in the past."
Click to expand...

Bill Nye is the man....
 
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt


Exactly. The cables wrapped her feet and they were severed from the force of the FALL, not the impact of the cable. Mythbusters had it right in this case and the OP is a fool.
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Oh, you were there? Then I accede to your magnificence....... jerk.

That was simply one example of my contentions with their methodology.
FoBot has it right. The size of cable they used was wayyy too small. Kinda like your ability to extrapolate and reason.

 
Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: esun
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I am not talking about any type of wrapping around, I am talking about a cable whipping around and slicing through someone. Go read about early aircraft accidents.</end quote></div>

Maybe you got confused by the crappy quoting scheme, but the remark about the differences between a cable wrapped around someone and a cable slicing a person in two was directed at the individual that did have trouble telling the difference.

And I would love to read about those aircraft accidents involving a cable slicing someone in two. Do you have a link? If not, then I'll have to accept the conclusion that is cited in Wikipedia (which I'm sure a watching of the episode would corroborate), which is that "a 5/8" cable at 30,000 lbs of tension was unable to cut a pig in two (or even cut into it), but did cause potentially lethal injuries."

It's really easy to fight evidence with more evidence. You've provided much less than Mythbusters at this point.</end quote></div>

You realize the size and strength and tension an aircraft cable is subjected to when pulling in a jet right and the speeds involved? You cannot duplicate that on mythbusters (and they cut it). You want evidence you go search your beloved wikipedia that is all knowing, because you know guys in the Navy aren't subjected to this stuff all the time.


The person that said the IQ of mythbusters fans is well funny, I agree.


Stupid mythbuster fanboys, these are the types that actually write into the show.
Click to expand...

Where are your evidences? You can't find it because it doesn?t exist. Just stick to writing essays on how to wash cars.

 
Originally posted by: Number1
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: esun
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I am not talking about any type of wrapping around, I am talking about a cable whipping around and slicing through someone. Go read about early aircraft accidents.</end quote></div>

Maybe you got confused by the crappy quoting scheme, but the remark about the differences between a cable wrapped around someone and a cable slicing a person in two was directed at the individual that did have trouble telling the difference.

And I would love to read about those aircraft accidents involving a cable slicing someone in two. Do you have a link? If not, then I'll have to accept the conclusion that is cited in Wikipedia (which I'm sure a watching of the episode would corroborate), which is that "a 5/8" cable at 30,000 lbs of tension was unable to cut a pig in two (or even cut into it), but did cause potentially lethal injuries."

It's really easy to fight evidence with more evidence. You've provided much less than Mythbusters at this point.</end quote></div>

You realize the size and strength and tension an aircraft cable is subjected to when pulling in a jet right and the speeds involved? You cannot duplicate that on mythbusters (and they cut it). You want evidence you go search your beloved wikipedia that is all knowing, because you know guys in the Navy aren't subjected to this stuff all the time.


The person that said the IQ of mythbusters fans is well funny, I agree.


Stupid mythbuster fanboys, these are the types that actually write into the show.</end quote></div>

Where are your evidences? You can't find it because it doesn?t exist. Just stick to writing essays on how to wash cars.
Click to expand...
Go do a google search fool.
 
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