Like whether a Kleenex box could be deadly in an accident. If you know how much force it takes to crack a human skull, couldn't you just weigh the box and calculate the velocity necessary to create that force, and then from other accident reports figure the maximum speed able to be transferred to that box? Instead they're making ballistic dummies and crashing cars all over the place.
2007-08-31 06:04:04 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I know it's a TV show and they want to do big stunts, but they don't do this all the time, nor even acknowledge they "could" just calculate it out, but are doing the experiment for fun.
2007-08-31 06:05:06 · update #1
I agree, I've noticed that the Mythbusters crew could have saved a lot of time and trouble had they gone through thorough engineering calculations first, like most industrial scientists do, because doing all those experiments "first hand" costs money. But it's entertainment, and they're probably deliberately doing them in a way that people could have done it themselves even if they only poorly understood the mathematics behind them. It's a teaching tool, it fosters scientific thinking and attitudes. And then there's also the times when they do in fact want to find out if "ordinary" uneducated people could have done some of those things own their own. For example, could the Chinese really have created a functional "rocket chair" centuries ago? The concept was simple, but directional control turned out to be out of the question.
2007-08-31 06:26:55 · answer #1 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing that I have found in my years on this earth, is that NOTHING works in the field like it did on paper. And my time working for an engineering firm only embeded that deeper into my brain.
All the calculations are great people, but the natural conditions always include something that cannot be forseen until you get out there and test your "paper project".
Most all equations and formulas are also based on the assumption that "certain perfect conditions" exist. With these calculations, they could get pretty close to a real answer. But nothing takes the place of actually putting it to the test.
And on top of that, it's TV and they want to explain every possible step that they can so the average person can understand what they are trying to show and what they have to take into account.
2007-08-31 13:42:08 · answer #2 · answered by Goyo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A segment of the population is not comfortable with mathematics and would not be convinced with calculations alone. At least, that is the justification. In my opinion, the real purpose is entertainment more than education. Many of the show's watchers know in general what will happen, at least intellectually, but want to see the experiment done anyway for the emotional impact.
2007-08-31 13:24:26 · answer #3 · answered by devilsadvocate1728 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, as you said, it is television so its meant to be entertaining. If they just talked about formulas and physics, the ratings would stink. So they make it entertaining by showing the public the experiments while sort of teaching the physics of it and stuff. Plus, formulas and calculations are only give you a number. People have to 'see it to believe it.' Doing the experiment is much more exciting and visually stimulating than formulas and calculations.
2007-08-31 13:23:54 · answer #4 · answered by michelle 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Just my two cents...
I won't consider any of the stunts/experiments as time wasted. For one, it's great that you can prove something mathematically but to actually set up an experiment to demonstrate this proof takes considerable time, effort and planning. This they demonstrate well.
Remember science isn't and shouldn't be about scribbling equations on paper. In the end it is about proving by experiment or by real world situations.
2007-08-31 13:50:32 · answer #5 · answered by David L 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember that the basis of science is experiments. So they dont want to presuppose physics formulas when they do these experiments, thus the experiments can stand on their own to prove or disprove these myths. If you only worked out with formulas your answer would depend on the theoretical structure you used. Now Im not saying you shouldn't believe the theoretical structure(I am a physicist after all) but thats the basic motivation I believe.
2007-08-31 13:13:12 · answer #6 · answered by Saul L 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Mythbusters = scientifically-based entertainment only.
They don't want to bore their audience with tedious calculations when the .50-caliber rifle needs to be fired or there is a car to blow up.
2007-08-31 13:43:26 · answer #7 · answered by Mathsorcerer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bbecause they are in the entertainment business. It is entertaining to most of the viewers. That is why they tune in again for the next show.
2007-08-31 13:21:27 · answer #8 · answered by Ken P 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
sometimes it is for educational purposes, but, for the most part, ENTERTAINMENT
2007-08-31 13:12:50 · answer #9 · answered by ronald c 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋