MythBusters/Boom-Lift Catapult

Boom-Lift Catapult
Season 2, Episode 8
Airdate	November 10, 2004
← 2x07 Pingpong Rescue	2x09 → Exploding House
MythBusters — Season Two

Boom-Lift Catapult is the eighth episode of the second season of MythBusters, and the twenty-fourth episode overall.

Buster lends a hand as the MythBusters explore the myth of the boom-lift catapult. Will Buster overcome the raw power of a 30,000-pound piece of machinery, or will the boom-lift turn into the ultimate medieval catapult? Then, worried about the price of gas? Tune in to Jamie and Adam's investigation into the most fuel-efficient way to keep cool in the car: turning on the air conditioning or opening the windows.

Guest Stars:

Boom-Lift Catapult

The Myth

Someone was using a boom-lift to lift an engine out of the car. The chain that was holding the engine snapped causing the person to be flung over their house and into a tree.

The Test

The Mythbusters need a boom-lift so they do a bit of shopping. They find a 40-foot boom-lift, however they determine that they want something longer. They find a 60-foot boom-lift, which as an added bonus, is quite flexible. They bring it back to the shop and set it up so that Buster will be flung. The first test is with the arm halfway extended. The test fails and the boom-lift barely moves. They try again with full extension, and again no results. They try again, but this time with Earl and nothing happens. Going with the traditional Mythbusters way, they try and make it so that the boom-lift will actually fling a person. They decide to set up a rig that will lift the boom-lift two shipping-containers height off the ground so that it can easily spin around the axel allowing it to act like a catapult. They set up the device and test it. Buster is flung straight into the ground and the boom-lift completely falls apart. They measure Buster to have gone 65 feet from the starting point.

The Result

Busted. It is not possible to fling a person 200 ft using a boom-lift under normal circumstances.

AC vs Windows Open

The Myth

Not as much of a myth, but a question as to which is more fuel efficient on a hot summers day, running your car with your windows wide open or with your AC cranked up full.

The Test

The Mythbusters employ the help of two car engineers to help them out, Bob and Jesse. They hook up a computer to the car so it can measure how efficient it is. They determine that Jamie will do 15 laps at 55 mph with 5 laps with window open, 5 laps with AC on, and a 5 lap control. The control yields an average of 11.7 mpg while the other two tests yield 11.7 mpg with the AC on and 11.3 mpg with the windows down. Adam then realizes that these results are not very accurate because the computer is basing the tests in a perfect condition and the computer is measuring the airflow so they decide upon the 'average joe' test. They fill up two identical cars with equal gas and weight and with one car with the windows open and one car with the AC on. They first decide to do the test at 55 mph with full tanks, however safety officials determine that the chances of blowing a tire is too high and it is dangerous so they fill the tanks up with only 5 gallons each. Jamie's car will run with the AC and Adam's with the windows down. After a long time of driving around the track, Jamie's car is the first one to run out of case and 30 laps later Adam's car runs out of gas.

The Result

Windows Open. They determine that driving with your windows open is 15% more efficient then driving with you AC on full on a hot summer's day.