Original subtitles

IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE IT, BUT WE'RE PROFESSIONALS.

DO US A FAVOR.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME! WHOA!

Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE OF "MYTHBUSTERS"...

ONLY ON "MYTHBUSTERS" IS SOMEONE TRANSFERRED ON A STRETCHER

TO BE DROPPED OFF A BUILDING.

...ADAM AND JAMIE JUMP ON THE MYTH

OF AN INNER SPRING FLING.

THAT WAS JUST AS MUCH FUN AS IT SEEMED LIKE.

IF A 3-STORY DROP INTO SHALLOW WATER IS LETHAL...

OH!

...COULD YOU CUSHION THE SAME FALL WITH A MATTRESS...

I FEEL LIKE I JUST GOT SPANKED.

Narrator: ...AND LIVE TO LEAP ANOTHER DAY?

I'M SCREWED.

MEANWHILE, KARI, TORY, AND GRANT...

TIME FOR BATTLE.

...PUT THEIR BOULDERS TO THE GRINDSTONE...

I LIKE-A TO CALL THIS A-PIECE "BALL ON THE BRICK."

Narrator: ...ROCKING THE MYTH THAT 15th-CENTURY CANNONEERS...

I LOVE THAT ECHO IN THE CANYON.

Narrator: ...FIRED STONE CANNONBALLS.

Kari: 1.

Narrator: COULD THEY REALLY DO AS MUCH DAMAGE AS METAL

AND LEAVE NOTHING FOR THE ENEMY TO FIRE BACK?

THAT IS THE MOST DISTURBING CASTLE I'VE EVER SEEN.

Narrator: WHO ARE THE MYTHBUSTERS?

ADAM SAVAGE...

IT'S SCIENTIFIC!

...AND JAMIE HYNEMAN.

WELL, THERE'S YOUR PROBLEM.

BETWEEN THEM, MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SPECIAL EFFECTS EXPERIENCE.

TOGETHER WITH TORY BELLECI...

THAT WAS INSANE.

...KARI BYRON...

FREAKIN' CONFIRMED!

...AND GRANT IMAHARA...

DECAPITATION HAZARD, EVERYBODY.

Narrator: ...THEY DON'T JUST TELL THE MYTHS,

THEY PUT THEM TO THE TEST.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

OKAY, SO, WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT.

THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH AN APOLOGY,

BECAUSE IT WAS DURING THE FILMING OF THIS EPISODE

THAT A CANNONBALL ACCIDENTALLY WENT THROUGH SOMEONE'S HOUSE.

YEAH, I MEAN, WE TAKE SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY ON OUR SHOW,

AND DESPITE A WHOLE ARRAY OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

AT THE BOMB RANGE, WE HAD A MAJOR MISHAP.

A MISHAP WHERE WE'RE TREMENDOUSLY RELIEVED

THAT NO ONE GOT HURT,

BUT WE'RE ALSO TREMENDOUSLY SORRY THAT IT HAPPENED AT ALL.

AND WITH THAT, LET'S START OUR SHOW.

Narrator: OKAY, SO, FIRST UP

A MYTH THAT'S ALL ABOUT SOFT LANDINGS.

PLAYING WITH DOLLS AGAIN, ARE WE?

NO, NO, NO. I'M SETTING UP A SCENARIO.

FOR WHAT?

ALL RIGHT, LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH IT.

PICTURE YOURSELF IN A HOTEL ROOM,

AND YOU ARE IN MORTAL DANGER

BECAUSE THERE'S SOME GUYS BANGING ON THE DOOR

WHO WANT TO SHOOT YOU.

NOW, YOU CAN'T, OBVIOUSLY, LEAVE THROUGH THE NORMAL MEANS

LIKE THE DOOR.

YOU'VE GOT TO LEAVE BY JUMPING OFF YOUR BALCONY.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR BALCONY,

IT'S 35 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.

FORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, THERE IS A SWIMMING POOL BELOW YOU.

UNFORTUNATELY,

THAT SWIMMING POOL IS ONLY 4 1/2 FEET DEEP.

THAT COULD GET UGLY.

VERY UGLY.

THIS COMES FROM THE SHOW "BURN NOTICE,"

AND WHAT OUR HERO IS EXPLAINING TO THE AUDIENCE

AS HE THROWS A MATTRESS OUT THE WINDOW

AND INTO THE POOL,

AND THEN HE JUMPS INTO THE MATTRESS TO SAFETY.

SO THE MYTH IS THAT IF YOU NEED TO JUMP INTO A SHALLOW POOL

FROM A HEIGHT YOU SHOULD THROW A MATTRESS DOWN THERE FIRST.

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO THIS "BURN NOTICE" MYTH,

THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD LEAP AND LIVE

AFTER A 35-FOOT DROP INTO SHALLOW WATER.

HOWEVER, BREAKING YOUR FALL WITH A MATTRESS

COULD SUPPOSEDLY SAVE YOUR BUTT.

SO, WOULD A CRASH LANDING REALLY LEAVE YOU

WITH MORE OF A SPRING IN YOUR STEP THAN A SPLASH LANDING?

SO, HOW DO YOU WANT TO TEST THIS?

WELL, CLEARLY THE MAIN THING HERE

IS TO TEST WHAT IT'S LIKE TO JUMP ONTO A MATTRESS IN A POOL,

BUT WE NEED TO COMPARE THAT

TO WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE JUST JUMPING INTO THE POOL AS WELL.

YEAH, INDEED, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED A POOL

THAT IS EXACTLY 4 1/2 FEET DEEP.

WELL, LET'S GET A CRANE AND SOME DUMMIES

AND ATTACH SOME SENSORS TO THEM AND DROP THEM OFF.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S PERFECT. LET'S DO IT.

SO, IT'S STRAIGHT TO THE SHALLOW END

AT DEFREMERY POOL IN OAKLAND.

IT'S A NICE POOL.

IT OUGHT TO WORK.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET BUSTER HURT.

WHERE THEY'LL HOIST BUSTER UP FOR THIS 3-STORY STORY.

IT TURNS OUT ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THIS SHOOT

IS JUST GETTING THE GRADALL INTO THE POOL AREA.

IT'S A BIT OF A TIGHT SQUEEZE.

THIS WHOLE STORY COMES DOWN TO,

IF YOU HAVE 35 FEET TO JUMP

AND YOU'VE GOT A POOL BELOW YOU THAT'S ONLY 4 1/2 FEET DEEP,

IS IT BETTER TO JUMP INTO THE REGULAR POOL

OR ONTO A MATTRESS FLOATING IN THAT POOL?

OF ALL THE DROPS THAT BUSTER'S GOING TO DO,

WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW HOW HARD HE'S DROPPING,

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS COMES INTO PLAY.

THIS IS AN ACCELEROMETER,

AND JUST LIKE A CRASH-TEST DUMMY,

I'M GOING TO INSTALL THIS IN BUSTER'S CHEST

TO LET US KNOW HOW MANY Gs HE PULLS

ON EACH OF THE SURFACES WE'RE DROPPING HIM ON.

Narrator: WITH AN ACCELEROMETER HEART TO TRACK HIS IMPACT...

LET'S CLOSE HIM UP.

...THE PVC MAN IS READY FOR THE DROP.

ONLY ON "MYTHBUSTERS" IS SOMEONE TRANSFERRED ON A STRETCHER

TO BE DROPPED OFF A BUILDING.

Narrator: HOWEVER, FIRST HE NEEDS

TO ADOPT THE "BURN NOTICE" POSITION.

Adam: NOW, IN THE SHOW OUR CHARACTER STATES

THAT PROPERLY DISTRIBUTING YOUR WEIGHT,

I.E. LANDING BUTT FIRST ONTO A MATTRESS ON THE WATER,

IS THE SAFEST WAY TO JUMP INTO THE POOL.

Narrator: SO, BUSTER WILL JUMP BUTT FIRST.

BUT FIRST UP, BUSTER WILL TAKE THE PLUNGE WITHOUT A MATTRESS.

SO, WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE WILL THAT DROP DO?

Adam: HERE WE GO, BUSTER. TIME TO JUMP INTO THE POOL.

Jamie: OKAY, DROPPING BUSTER INTO THE WATER

FROM 35 FEET IN 3, 2, 1, GO!

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT WAS JUST AS MUCH FUN AS IT SEEMED LIKE.

Narrator: BUSTER TOOK THE FALL,

AND HIS BACKSIDE TOOK A WALLOP,

FROM BOTH THE WATER AND THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL.

BUT WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY?

Jamie: SO, WE DROPPED OUR DUMMY FROM 35 FEET

STRAIGHT INTO THE WATER,

AND WE SAW AN INITIAL IMPACT OF 50 Gs,

FOLLOWED BY AN IMPACT ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL OF 29 Gs.

NOW, 50 Gs IS OUR THRESHOLD FOR POTENTIAL DEATH.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,

YOU'RE NOT WALKING AWAY FROM AN IMPACT LIKE THAT.

Narrator: YEP, THERE'S NO WALKING AWAY FROM THAT.

BUT HOW WILL IT COMPARE WITH THE MYTH?

CAN THE AVERAGE MATTRESS...

FOR OUR MATTRESS TEST,

WE'VE CHOSEN A STANDARD INNER SPRING MATTRESS.

THAT'S THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: ...REALLY MAKE A FATAL FLOP SURVIVABLE?

PERFECT.

OKAY. 3, 2, 1, GO!

NICE.

"X" MARKS THE SPOT.

BUSTER HIT WITH AN AUDIBLE IMPACT.

BUT DID THE MATTRESS CUSHION HIS TUSH?

Adam: BUSTER'S DROP WAS PERFECT,

AND ALTHOUGH HE MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE IT,

ACCORDING TO OUR ACCELEROMETER DATA,

HE IS A FRIGGING MESS.

HE PULLED 86 Gs HITTING THAT MATTRESS,

ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO A SEVERE CAR ACCIDENT.

AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFE JUMP.

IT'S NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD FOR THIS STORY.

Narrator: IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD

BECAUSE THAT'S A MORE DAMAGING IMPACT THAN ONTO WATER ALONE.

HOWEVER...

Adam: WELL, I LOVE OUR ACCELEROMETER DATA

FROM ALL THESE DROPS,

BUT I CAN'T HELP FEELING LIKE

THEY'RE NOT GIVING US THE FULL PICTURE.

I'D LOVE IN SOME WAY TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF INJURIES

BUSTER MIGHT TAKE FROM THAT KIND OF FALL.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, AND I MIGHT HAVE JUST THE THING.

NEXT UP, A MYTH ON THE ROCKS.

OKAY, SO OUR NEXT MYTH IS A GREAT ONE

THAT COMES FROM THE 15th CENTURY.

AWESOME. WHAT'S THE STORY?

WELL, IT'S ABOUT CANNONS,

OR MORE SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT THE CANNONBALLS.

SO THE EUROPEAN CANNONEERS AT THE TIME

WERE RELUCTANT TO FIRE THEIR CANNONS ON THE BATTLEFIELD

FOR TWO REASONS.

I GUESS ONE REASON WOULD BE

SO THEY COULDN'T RETRIEVE THE CANNONBALLS

AND FIRE THEM BACK.

SO I GUESS THE OTHER REASON COULD BE THAT,

CAST IRON WAS A PRETTY VALUABLE COMMODITY BACK THEN,

SO YOU COULD MELT DOWN THE CANNONBALLS

AND MAKE YOUR OWN CANNONS.

EXACTLY.

SO, THE MYTH IS THAT, INSTEAD OF FIRING

THEIR CAST-IRON CANNONBALLS,

THEY MADE THEIR OWN CANNONBALLS OUT OF STONE

AND FIRED THEM TO HAVE EQUIVALENT DAMAGE

TO THE CAST IRON, YET EXPLODE ON IMPACT

SO THEY COULDN'T BE SENT BACK OR MELTED DOWN.

INTERESTING. THAT IS BRILLIANT.

Narrator: ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF 15th-CENTURY EUROPE,

SOME CANNY CANNONEERS

DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE THE ENEMY ANY AMMUNITION.

SO, SUPPOSEDLY THEY FASHIONED THEIR CANNON FODDER OUT OF ROCK.

BUT WOULD A STONE CANNONBALL REALLY DO AS MUCH DAMAGE

AS METAL AND EXPLODE ON IMPACT?

OKAY, SO, ULTIMATELY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD

A CASTLE OF SOME KIND

AND COMPARE THE DAMAGE DONE BY CAST IRON

AND STONE CANNONBALLS.

WHICH MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME STONE CANNONBALLS,

BUT ALSO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET HOLD OF A CANNON.

WELL, WE DO KNOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE PERFECT ANTIQUE CANNON.

WE CAN JUST CALL UP HARRY WEBB

AND SEE IF HE'LL LET US USE OLD MOSES.

YEAH, BUT SOMETHING TELLS ME

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE TOO HAPPY ABOUT US

FIRING STONE CANNONBALLS THROUGH OLD MOSES.

WHAT IF WE BREAK IT?

WELL, WE COULD USE THE SMALL CANNON THAT I BUILT

FOR THE "BALL AND CHAIN" PRISON ESCAPE.

GOOD IDEA, BUT YOU KNOW WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY FIRED THAT

AT GENUINE BATTLE SPEEDS.

SO MAYBE WE USE OLD MOSES

TO GET THE TRUE FIRING SPEED OF A CANNONBALL.

THEN WE CALIBRATE YOUR CANNON TO MATCH THAT AND GO FROM THERE.

GREAT.

Narrator: YEP, BEFORE ANYONE CASTS THE FIRST STONE,

THE MYTHBUSTERS HEAD TO THE BOMB RANGE.

Kari: WE'VE SAFELY FIRED OUR CANNON SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SHOW.

WE USED IT FOR THE "BALL AND CHAIN" MYTH.

WE'VE ACTUALLY FIRED CHEESE FROM IT...

BUT WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY HAD TO FIRE ANYTHING

AT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL BATTLE SPEEDS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT FIRST.

HOW FAST DOES A STEEL CANNONBALL TRAVEL FROM A REAL CANNON?

AND ONCE WE KNOW THAT,

WE CAN CALIBRATE THIS CANNON TO MATCH ITS SPEED.

Narrator: BUT BEFORE ANY CANNON CALIBRATION,

THEY'RE PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS

TO CREATE A ROCK-SOLID BARRICADE

TO STOP THE CANNONBALL IN ITS TRACKS.

Tory: THAT LOOKS ABOUT PERFECT.

MEANWHILE, OLD MOSES MOSEYS UP TO THE BOMB RANGE.

WOW!

OLD MOSES AND THE MYTHBUSTERS GO WAY BACK.

LIVE!

IN FACT, YOU MIGHT SAY,

IT'S THE CANNON OF CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO MYTHBUSTING.

[ LAUGHING ]

Tory: WE'RE GOING TO FIRE A CANNONBALL OUT OF OLD MOSES.

WE'RE GOING TO CATCH IT ON A HIGH SPEED.

WE'RE GOING TO USE THE SCALE

TO SEE HOW FAST THAT CANNONBALL IS GOING,

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MATCH OUR CANNONBALL

TO THAT SAME SPEED.

NOW, SINCE THESE CANNONBALLS ARE SO IMPORTANT,

WE HAVE TO FIND IT, SO WE HAVE A CANNONBALL CATCHER.

WE HAVE THREE GARBAGE CANS FILLED WITH WATER

IN FRONT OF A CONCRETE WALL COVERED IN BED LINER.

THAT SHOULD SLOW THE CANNONBALL DOWN,

AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO RETRIEVE IT.

Narrator: BEHIND THE WALL

THERE'S ALSO A SECOND LINE OF BARRELS,

FOR OPTIMUM CANNONBALL CATCHING,

AND BEHIND THAT, THE ULTIMATE SAFETY STOP, A DIRT HILLSIDE.

ONE POUND OF BLACK POWDER.

Narrator: SO NOW IT'S OVER TO KARI TO PREP THE POWDER.

FOIL CONTAINER TO PREVENT SPARKS.

ONE POWERFUL BURRITO.

VENT. VENTED.

Narrator: ONE POUND OF BLACK POWDER

IS THE BATTLE STANDARD FOR A CANNON LIKE OLD MOSES.

AND SAFELY BEHIND THE BLAST-PROOF SHIELDS,

IT'S THE COUNTDOWN TO CANNONBALL CALIBRATION.

Kari: OKAY, THIS IS OLD MOSES IN 3, 2, 1.

WHOA! WOW.

THAT WAS ENERGETIC.

WOW!

SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL ARRAY OF WATER?

Narrator: THE RED PLUME OF WATER LOOKED STRIKING,

AND THE BALL CATCHERS CAUGHT THE CANNONBALL.

SO, WE'VE GOT ONE, TWO, THREE BARRELS.

HEY, HERE'S THE BALL. WOW.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE HOW FAST IT WAS GOING.

THERE'S THE SHOT, AND THERE'S THE BALL.

WHAT'S THE MUZZLE VELOCITY?

1,200 FEET PER SECOND.

NICE.

Narrator: SO, THAT'S THE SPEED TO MATCH,

AND IT'S OUT WITH OLD MOSES

AND IN WITH THE MYTHBUSTERS MINIATURE CANNON.

COMING UP...

OH!

...BUSTER'S COUSIN DROPS IN.

PERFECT HIT.

AND LATER...

HOW MANY TOOLS DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A STONE CANNONBALL?

WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.

Narrator: SUPPOSEDLY A 3-STORY FALL

INTO 4 1/2 FEET OF WATER

WOULD GET YOU OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.

BUT IF YOU LANDED ON A FLOATING MATTRESS,

COULD YOU ESCAPE UNSCATHED?

WELL, SO FAR, BUSTER TOOK A LETHAL HIT ON THE MATTRESS

AND A SURVIVABLE HIT ON WATER.

AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFE JUMP.

IT'S NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD FOR THIS STORY.

Narrator: HOWEVER, TO DEFINITIVELY CALL THIS,

THEY'RE GOING TO DUMMY UP SOMETHING MORE LIFELIKE.

REMEMBER THAT I SAID I HAD SOMETHING

THAT WAS A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE DUMMIES WE'D BEEN USING?

WE DO. HEY, ADAM, CHECK THIS OUT.

OH!

Narrator: YEP, YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS DISTURBING FACE

FROM THE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE HORROR?

DUH DUH DUH DUH!

Narrator: BUT ITS ROLE AS JOHN DOE

HID THE SYNDAVER'S REAL PURPOSE....

TO THE WINDOW!

Narrator: ...AS AN ULTRA REALISTIC HUMAN ANALOGUE.

THESE ARE SURGICAL TRAINING DUMMIES.

THEY'RE MADE MUSCLE BY MUSCLE,

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY SUTURED IN PLACE.

OH, MY GOD.

I DARE SAY THAT IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS MEDICALLY ACCURATE?

IT IS. IT'S MADE OF A POLYMER.

IT'S WATER BASED,

AND EVERYTHING IS AS REALISTIC

AS MODERN TECHNOLOGY CAN MAKE IT.

AND ITS ANATOMY ISN'T THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALISTIC.

I WISH YOU WERE HERE BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL

AND IT SMELLS KIND OF BAD, WHICH YOU'D EXPECT.

BUT BEFORE THE SYNDAVER CAN TAKE THE PLUNGE,

JAMIE NEEDS TO GIVE IT A SKIN.

AND THIS SHRINK-WRAPPING ALSO DOUBLES AS WATERPROOFING.

READY FOR MARKET?

Narrator: SO, WITH THE SYNDAVER SKINNED UP,

IT'S TIME TO DROP IT OFF AT THE POOL.

YOU FEELING READY, BUDDY?

Jamie: ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT USING

THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF DUMMY

IS THAT, WITH THE HELP OF A PORTABLE X-RAY MACHINE

LIKE THIS DEVICE OVER HERE,

WE CAN ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED INTERNALLY TO THE DUMMY

WITHOUT PERFORMING THE EQUIVALENT OF AN AUTOPSY.

Narrator: SO, AFTER A CHECK-UP

TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE...

Man: YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RIBS COME ACROSS.

THEY'RE ALL INTACT.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE.

Narrator: ...IT'S TIME TO STRAP UP THE SYNBUSTER

FOR ITS FIRST FALL INTO 4 1/2 FEET OF WATER.

Jamie: SYNDAVER INTO THE POOL FROM 35 FEET

IN 3, 2, 1, GO!

A PERFECT HIT.

IT'S BOTTOMS UP FOR THE NEW BUSTER...

...BUT WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE DID THAT DROP DO?

WELL, TO FIND OUT, IT'S FISHED OUT FOR A CLOSER EXAMINATION

BY BOTH THE X-RAY AND AN EXPERT.

NOW THAT WE'VE DROPPED OUR DUMMY,

WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET AN EXPERT OPINION

ON EXACTLY HOW MUCH DAMAGE IT SUSTAINED,

AND WE'D LIKE AN EXPERT THAT DEALS WITH THIS KIND OF INJURY

EVERY SINGLE DAY,

AND THAT'S CALLED AN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON.

WE FOUND ONE NAMED DR. NOAH WEISS.

DR. WEISS, ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE US

A FREE CONSULT ON BUSTER'S INJURIES?

SURE, I'D BE HAPPY TO.

LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK.

WE CAN SEE OVER HERE IS THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN A SEPARATION

BETWEEN THE LUMBAR SPINE AND THE SACRUM.

THIS IS A VERY SEVERE INJURY

THAT WOULD MOST CERTAINLY RESULT IN MAJOR SPINAL CORD DAMAGE.

WOW.

SO, OUR DUMMY'S PARALYZED.

IT'S PARALYZED.

Adam: SO, OUR SYNDAVER,

AFTER BEING DROPPED INTO THE POOL

WITHOUT A MATTRESS IN ITS WAY

HAS SUSTAINED SOME VERY SERIOUS DAMAGE --

A SHATTERED PELVIS AND A PARALYZING SPINE INJURY,

AND IF IT SEEMS LIKE I'M SMILING,

I'M ONLY HAPPY THAT WE GOT SOME SIGNIFICANT RESULTS

FROM THIS DUMMY.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO DROP ONE INTO A MATTRESS.

Narrator: IN THEIR PREVIOUS TEST WITH THE ORIGINAL BUSTER,

THE G LOAD OF THE DROP ONTO A MATTRESS WAS HIGHER.

BUT WILL THAT MEAN THAT SYNBUSTER TWO

SUSTAINS MORE INJURY BY MAKING A BED AND LEAPING INTO IT?

READY, ADAM? READY.

3, 2, 1, GO.

PERFECT HIT.

Narrator: BUSTER HIT THE CRASH PAD,

AND ITS BUTT TOOK THE BRUNT.

SO IT'S OVER TO DR. WEISS

TO FIND OUT IF THE SYNBUSTER'S REAR IS IN THE CLEAR.

ON PHYSICAL EXAMINATION,

WHAT'S IMMEDIATELY APPARENT IS THE PELVIS IS FAR MORE UNSTABLE

COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS SYNDAVER.

REALLY?

YEAH, THIS IS COMPLETELY DISRUPTED.

WOW.

Narrator: AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

AS THE X-RAYS REVEAL,

THE MATTRESS JUMPER SUSTAINED FAR MORE DAMAGE ALL OVER.

IN ADDITION TO A SIMILAR INJURY

WHERE HE BASICALLY BLEW APART HIS PELVIS,

THIS ONE ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE TWO INJURIES TO HIS SPINE --

ONE IN THE LUMBAR SPINE OR LOW BACK

AND ONE IN THE MID BACK OR THORACIC SPINE.

HE DISLOCATED HIS KNEE.

HE DISLOCATED HIS ELBOW,

AND THE INJURY TO THE PELVIS WAS MUCH WORSE

THAN IN THE FIRST SYNDAVER.

SO, THE MATTRESS WAS FAR WORSE THAN FALLING INTO WATER?

I THINK BOTH JUMPS WERE A PROBLEM,

BUT IT DEFINITELY APPEARS TO BE MUCH WORSE

LANDING ON THE MATTRESS IN THE WATER.

SO HE'S EVEN MORE DEAD?

HE WOULD BE EVEN MORE DEAD THAN THE FIRST ONE.

IS THAT A MEDICAL TERM?

IT IS NOW.

[ Chuckling ] OKAY.

Adam: WE HAVE TESTED THIS THING SIX WAYS TO SUNDAY --

ACTUALLY, FOUR WAYS AND ON WEEKDAYS --

BUT WE HAVE FOUND THAT, YES,

JUMPING FROM 35 FEET IS BAD INTO WATER,

BUT INTO MATTRESS IT'S LIKE TWICE AS BAD.

THIS IS A COUNTERINTUITIVE RESULT,

WHICH FOR US IS TOTALLY AWESOME.

Narrator: YEP, BOTH BUSTER AND SYNBUSTER TELL THE SAME STORY.

DESPITE WHAT YOU'D EXPECT,

A MATTRESS DOESN'T CUSHION A SPLASH LANDING.

IT ONLY MAKES IT WORSE.

SO, WHERE WOULD YOU SAY THIS MYTH STANDS?

YOU KNOW, IT'S ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE,

BUT I CAN'T QUITE -- WHAT IS IT, NOT RIGHT...

NOT TRUTHFUL.

ILL-CONCEIVED.

ILL CONCEIVED, IMPROPER,

UH, LET'S SAY, LET'S SAY, JUST WRONG.

OKAY, IT'S WRONG.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT

PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN KNOWN TO DIVE FROM THAT HEIGHT

INTO SHALLOW WATER AND SURVIVE.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT,

AND I THINK WHAT WE COULD DO IS FIND SOMEONE

WHO KNOWS HOW TO SAFELY JUMP FROM THOSE HEIGHTS

INTO SHALLOW WATER AND HAVE THEM SHOW US THE METHOD.

I THINK THAT'D BE A GOOD THING TO KNOW.

LET'S DO IT. OKAY.

Narrator: THE MYTH IS BUSTED,

BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET THE DROP ON A FALL

INTO 4 1/2 FEET OF WATER?

COMING UP ON "MYTHBUSTERS,"

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 400 YEARS,

WE FIRE CANNON BALLS... MADE OF STONE.

Narrator: BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE,

SUPPOSEDLY SOME 15th-CENTURY CANNONS

FIRED ROCKS INSTEAD OF IRON

BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID THEY DO THE SAME DAMAGE,

THEY ALSO BROKE UP ON IMPACT.

BUT BEFORE THEY GET TO THE STONE,

FIRST THE MYTHBUSTERS NEED TO CALIBRATE THE MINI CANNON.

TIME FOR THE LITTLE GUNS.

JUST LIKE OLD MOSES,

THE MINIATURE CANNON FACES OFF

AGAINST A FULL-BARREL SAFETY SYSTEM.

GOT TO MIX UP A GOOD BATCH.

Narrator: BUT THAT'S WHERE THE SIMILARITIES END.

OKAY, WE KNOW THE OLD MOSES BATTLE SPEED

FIRES A CANNONBALL TRAVELING AT 1,200 FEET PER SECOND.

SO NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT,

WE CAN MATCH OUR CANNON TO THAT SPEED.

OLD MOSES USED ONE POUND OF BLACK POWDER

TO GET THE BALL UP TO SPEED,

BUT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO INCREASE THAT FOR OUR CANNON.

WHY? WELL, THE BARREL IS SHORTER,

WHICH MEANS THAT THE BALL WON'T HAVE AS MUCH TIME TO ACCELERATE,

SO WE'VE GOT TO GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE KICK.

TO ALLOW FOR THAT, WE'RE GOING TO USE A BIT MORE BLACK POWDER

TO GET US UP TO THE 1,200 FEET PER SECOND WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

Narrator: RIGHT, SO THE CANNON IS AIMED AT THE BALL CATCHERS.

THE STEEL IS LOADED, AND THE FUSE IS LIT.

LET'S GO.

THEN IT'S BACK TO THE BUNKER.

ALL RIGHT, FUSE IS LIT, READY FOR THE CALIBRATION TEST.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF STUBBY CAN DO IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE SOON.

SO, THAT WAS THE MISFIRE

THAT SOMEHOW SENT OUR CANNONBALL

UP AND OVER THE HUGE SAFETY BERM AND INTO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

YEAH, AND WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THAT HAD HAPPENED,

WE CALLED OFF THE EXPERIMENT

IMMEDIATELY TO HELP OUT ANY WAY WE COULD.

AND FIRST, THAT MEANT LOOKING AFTER THE PEOPLE

WHOSE PROPERTY HAD BEEN DAMAGED,

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT

THAT WE REBUILD BRIDGES WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND AT THAT SAME TIME,

OUR TEAM WAS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG

TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

BELIEVE ME, IT WAS AN INTENSE FEW MONTHS

FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

BUT ONCE WE STARTED MAKING PROGRESS

ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS --

THE PROPERTY, THE COMMUNITY, THE SAFETY REVIEW --

WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD,

AND WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT FINISHING OFF THIS MYTH.

YEAH, AND FIRST UP

WAS TO FIND A NEW, MORE REMOTE LOCATION.

AND THEN, HARRY WEBB DECIDED

THAT WE COULD USE OLD MOSES

TO FIRE OUR STONE CANNON BALLS AFTER ALL.

WHICH MEANT THE FIRST THING UP

WAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TYPE OF ROCK THESE CANNON BALLS

WERE EVEN MADE OUT OF.

GOT TO BE DIAMONDS AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: AND FOR THAT ROCK RESEARCH,

TORY VISITED THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

TO TALK TO MINERAL MAESTRO, GEOLOGIST PETER ROOPNARINE.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE THREE BEST TYPES OF STONES

THAT THEY COULD HAVE USED?

WELL, I THINK SANDSTONE WOULD HAVE BEEN A COMMON MATERIAL.

IT WAS USED FOR A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION

IN VARIOUS PARTS OF EUROPE.

IT'S VERY SOFT. IT WOULD BE EASY TO WORK.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL A SANDSTONE CANNONBALL

WOULD SURVIVE BEING SHOT OUT OF A CANNON.

THEY ALSO WOULD PROBABLY HAVE USED A LOT OF LIMESTONE.

IT'S VERY HARD BUT ALSO COMMON AND EASY TO WORK,

AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT OF EXPERIENCE

WORKING THIS KIND OF SEDIMENTARY ROCK.

GRANITE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS AN IGNEOUS ROCK.

IT'S NOT AS COMMON,

BUT IT'S HIGHLY PRIZED BECAUSE OF ITS STRENGTH.

IT'S VERY DENSE -- WOULD PROBABLY DO A LOT OF DAMAGE.

WELL, I GUESS WE WON'T KNOW

UNTIL WE MAKE OUR OWN CANNONBALLS

AND SEE HOW WELL THEY DO.

ALL RIGHT, NOW I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.

HOW MUCH KRYPTONITE DO YOU HAVE?

THAT'S A SECRET.

Narrator: SANDSTONE, LIMESTONE, AND GRANITE ARE THE CANDIDATES.

BUT WILL ANY HAVE THE COMBINATION OF HARDNESS

AND COMPOSITION TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS METAL

AND BREAK UP ON IMPACT?

WELL, WITH EACH MYTHBUSTER WORKING ON A DIFFERENT ROCK,

IT'S TIME FOR ALL THREE

TO PUT THEIR BOULDERS TO THE GRINDSTONE.

GRANT DECIDES TO CARVE HIS SANDSTONE CANNONBALL

ON THE LATHE,

WHILE KARI NEEDS A MORE AGGRESSIVE TOOL

TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON HER LIMESTONE.

CAN I SWITCH TO SANDSTONE, PLEASE?

Narrator: BUT TORY HAS TURNED IN THE POWER TOOLS

FOR A SUPER POWERED TOOL.

LOOK AT THIS THING.

IT'S DESIGNED TO POLISH CONCRETE.

[ WHIRRING ]

NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH THE IGNEOUS GRANITE

IS THE HARDEST ROCK ON THE BLOCK,

THE CONCRETE GRINDER SOON HAS IT BEAT.

I LIKE-A TO CALL THIS A-PIECE "BALL ON THE BRICK."

WELL, I GUESS I SHOULD MAKE ANOTHER ONE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator: TORY'S LEADING THE WAY,

AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE BOTH KARI AND GRANT

HAVE TAKEN ON THE CONCRETE POLISHER, TOO.

YEAH, I REALLY LIKE WORKING IN TV.

I THINK IT'S THE GLAMOUR...

THE CLOTHES...

MAKES ME FEEL REALLY PRETTY.

Narrator: AND ALTHOUGH THE SOFTEST ROCK,

THE SANDSTONE, IS EASIER TO CARVE,

IT HAS ITS DRAWBACKS, TOO.

THE THING IS, BECAUSE IT'S SO SOFT,

IT WILL PROBABLY BREAK ON IMPACT,

BUT MY QUESTION IS,

IS IT GOING TO SURVIVE THE LAUNCH?

AFTER A LOT OF HARD WORK AND HOURS OF GRINDING,

OUR CANNONBALLS ARE DONE AND THEY LOOK GREAT.

WE GOT A SANDSTONE, WE GOT A LIMESTONE,

AND WE GOT A GRANITE CANNONBALL.

NOW ALL WE NEED TO DO IS LOAD THEM INTO A REAL CANNON,

FIRE THEM AT A CASTLE WALL,

AND SEE HOW THEY COMPARE TO AN IRON CANNONBALL.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO THIS MYTH,

BY USING A MATTRESS TO BREAK YOUR FALL,

YOU COULD HIT THE SACK AND ESCAPE.

BUT IN REALITY, NOT SO MUCH.

HE WOULD BE EVEN MORE DEAD THAN THE FIRST ONE.

IS THAT A MEDICAL TERM?

IT IS NOW.

HAVING ESTABLISHED THAT JUMPING OFF A 3-STORY BUILDING,

EITHER DIRECTLY INTO 4 1/2 FEET OF WATER

OR ONTO A MATTRESS IN THAT WATER,

IS POTENTIALLY LETHAL,

IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHAT EXACTLY WOULD IT TAKE

TO JUMP SAFELY FROM THAT HEIGHT AND INTO THAT DEPTH OF WATER?

SO WE'VE COME HERE

TO THE GEORGE F. HAINES INTERNATIONAL SWIM CENTER

IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA,

WHERE THEY HAVE A MAGNIFICENT POOL

AND A PLATFORM THAT SITS PRECISELY

THREE STORIES ABOVE THAT POOL.

AND IN A LITTLE WHILE MR. JAMES FRANKLIN HYNEMAN

IS GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE

TO DIVE SAFELY FROM THIS HEIGHT.

Better him than me.

GIVEN THAT JUMPING OFF A HEIGHT LIKE THAT

THE WRONG WAY INTO WATER COULD SERIOUSLY HURT YOU,

I'M NOT ABOUT TO DO ANYTHING FANCY OFF OF THAT

WITHOUT SOME TRAINING.

NOW, LUCKILY WE'VE GOT JUST THE GUY TO DO THAT.

HE TAUGHT US HOW TO JUMP OFF OF BUILDINGS.

HE'S WRAPPED US IN BUBBLE WRAP AND THROWN US OFF OF BUILDINGS.

THAT WAS INTENSE.

HIS NAME IS RANDY LAMB.

HE'S A PROFESSIONAL STUNT MAN,

AND HE IS TASKED TODAY

WITH TAKING JAMIE RIGHT TO THE EDGE

[ Chuckling ] AND THROWING HIM OFF.

Narrator: THROWING HIM OFF AND ENSURING THAT HIS PLUNGE

IS LESS THAN THE 4 1/2-FOOT DEPTH OF THE MYTH.

BUT FIRST, WHAT KIND OF DEPTH

DOES THE AVERAGE DROP FROM 35 FEET GET?

WOW!

THAT WAS REALLY COOL. [ LAUGHS ]

I'M SCREWED.

Adam: RANDY'S JUMP CARRIED HIM ABOUT 2/3 THE DEPTH OF THE POOL,

ABOUT 12 OR 13 FEET.

IT'S A LOT FARTHER THAN 4 1/2 FEET,

AND I HAVE TO ADMIT I'M REALLY CURIOUS

TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FORM HIS SHALLOW DIVE TAKES.

Narrator: WELL, THAT'S WHAT JAMIE IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

SO, RANDY, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS

AS FAR AS FLATTENING OUT QUICKLY WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF?

AS YOU'RE COMING DOWN,

YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT NOW IN A VERY VERTICAL POSITION.

JUST AS YOUR FEET TOUCH THE WATER,

I WANT YOU TO PULL THEM IN FRONT OF YOU.

KEEP YOUR LEGS STRAIGHT AND PIKE RIGHT HERE, ALL RIGHT?

THIS POSITION HERE SHOULD SCOOP YOU UP.

ALL RIGHT?

IT'S A TACTIC THAT SHOULD SLOW JAMIE DOWN

AS HE ENTERS THE WATER

AND MAKE HIS ANGLE OF ENTRY SHALLOWER.

AND HOW DID THAT FEEL?

IT FELT ALL RIGHT.

BUT WITH A 3-STORY DIVE

INTO THE MYTHICAL 4 1/2 FEET TO COME,

PRACTICE IS GOING TO MAKE PERFECT.

SO, CUE THE MUSIC --

WE'RE GOING TO NEED A TRAINING MONTAGE.

LAY BACK! LAY BACK! NICE!

Jamie: IF THERE'S ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED IN ACQUIRING TECHNIQUES

TO DEAL WITH DANGEROUS SITUATIONS LIKE THIS ONE,

IS THAT YOU NEED TO WORK YOUR WAY UP INCREMENTALLY.

I FEEL LIKE I JUST GOT SPANKED.

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE INSTRUCTIONS

THAT AS YOU'RE JUMPING

YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IN YOUR HEAD, "DO THIS,

NOW I'M GOING TO DO THIS, AND THEN I'M GOING TO DO THIS."

IT ALL HAPPENS SO FAST IT HAS TO BE AUTOMATIC.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DOING RIGHT NOW,

IS BURNING THAT IN

SO THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

STAY TIGHT. STAY TIGHT. NICE.

Narrator: AND BEFORE LONG,

JAMIE HAS GRADUATED TO THE 15-FOOT HEIGHT.

HE SURVEYS THE DISTANCE...

ESTIMATES HIS TRAJECTORY, AND HE JUMPS.

THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD ONE. BARELY HEARD A SOUND.

NICE WORK, SIR.

TAKING IT DROP BY DROP,

JAMIE'S GOTTEN HIS DEPTH TO 5 1/2 FEET,

AND HIS TECHNIQUE IS GETTING SO GOOD THAT SOON...

Adam: THAT WAS YOUR BEST ONE YET.

I THINK YOU SHOULD MOVE UP AND START PRACTICING

FROM A LITTLE BIT HIGHER TO GET COMFORTABLE UP THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

Adam: AS JAMIE PRACTICES

AND MOVES TO EVER HIGHER DIVING PLATFORMS,

THERE'S ACTUALLY A QUITE INTERESTING REASON

FOR WHICH HE MIGHT GET BETTER AT DECELERATING FASTER

AS HE GOES HIGHER.

WATER RESISTS AN IMPACT

IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE SPEED OF THE IMPACT.

KARI, GRANT, AND TORY INVESTIGATED THIS

IN THEIR "WATER vs. CONCRETE" EPISODE...

[ CHEERING ]

...AND IT DEFINITELY APPLIES HERE.

SO, WHILE HE DID PRETTY GOOD AT 15 FEET,

HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HIT HIS TARGET AT 35.

THAT ONE WAS FANTASTIC.

THAT WAS AS GOOD AS YOUR BEST JUMP FROM 15 FEET.

YEAH, WELL, I MEAN, IF THAT ONE WAS AS GOOD

AS I GOT FROM 15 FEET,

MAYBE I'LL BE ABLE TO DO JUST AS GOOD FROM 35.

YEAH. EXACTLY. NOTHING TO DO BUT KEEP PRACTICING.

AND AFTER A DAY OF JUMPING IN WITH BOTH FEET,

THAT 35-FOOT FALL WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW.

SO, HOW ARE YOU FEELING AFTER ALL THAT?

OW.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

DON'T TRY ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN ON THE SHOW AT HOME.

WE ARE WHAT YOU CALL... EXPERTS.

WE'VE COME OUT TO A QUARRY IN ANGELS CAMP

SO WE CAN TEST THE MYTH OF THE STONE CANNONBALL.

IT WAS SAID THAT THESE WERE NOT ONLY AS EFFECTIVE

AS IRON CANNONBALLS, BUT THEY EXPLODED UPON IMPACT,

WHICH MEANS THEY COULDN'T BE FIRED BACK.

HERE COMES THE CANNON.

Tory: LOOK AT OLD MOSES READY FOR ACTION.

Tory: NOW, SINCE WE'VE NEVER SHOT

ONE OF THESE STONE CANNONBALLS,

WE'RE GOING TO FIRE THIS CANNON REMOTELY.

SO WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW IS I'M ROLLING OUT 500 FEET

OF WIRE SO THAT WE CAN LAUNCH THIS THING

FROM BEHIND THIS PILE OF ROCKS WITH AN ELECTRIC MATCH.

Narrator: AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PRECAUTION THEY'RE TAKING.

Kari: FOR OUR STONE CANNONBALL EXPERIMENT,

WE HAVE WATER BARRELS THAT ARE STACKED 2 HIGH 3 DEEP.

BEHIND THAT A SOFT SAND BERM,

AND BEHIND THAT WE ARE WAY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

IN A ROCK QUARRY WITH WALLS THAT ARE 300 FEET TALL.

Narrator: THAT'S THE SET-UP,

SO NOW TO CALIBRATE THEIR STONE BALLS

TO THE STEEL-BALL SPEED OF THEIR PREVIOUS TEST.

WE NEED TO TEST THE SPEED OF THE STONE CANNONBALL,

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY WE START WITH THE SANDSTONE?

NOW, REMEMBER, WE'RE TRYING TO GET 1,200 FEET PER SECOND,

JUST LIKE THE STEEL BALL.

GUYS, LET ME JUST POINT OUT,

THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IN 400 YEARS

SOMEBODY HAS FIRED A STONE CANNONBALL.

THIS IS GOING TO BE COOL.

Narrator: COOL AND TRICKY,

SINCE WITH THREE DIFFERENT MASSES,

TO GET ALL THE BALLS TRAVELING AT THE SAME VELOCITY,

THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A FORMULA.

SO, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH BLACK POWDER TO USE

TO GET OUR STONE CANNONBALLS TO HAVE THE SAME VELOCITY

AS THE STEEL BALLS.

NOW, WHEN WE PLUG IN THEIR WEIGHTS TO A BASIC FORMULA

BASED ON KINETIC ENERGY, THIS IS WHAT WE GET.

OUR 1.3-POUND SANDSTONE BALL

NEEDS .3 POUNDS OF BLACK POWDER.

NOW, THE 1.4-POUND LIMESTONE BALL

NEEDS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE

WITH .33 POUNDS OF BLACK POWDER.

AND FINALLY OUR GRANITE BALL WHICH IS 1.7 POUNDS

NEEDS POINT .36 POUNDS OF BLACK POWDER,

JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.

Narrator: THAT'S THE THEORY,

BUT WILL THOSE NUMBERS WORK IN PRACTICE?

AND WILL THE CANNONBALLS SURVIVE THE LAUNCH?

FIRST UP TO FIND ITS BLACK POWDER BUTTER ZONE

IS THE SANDSTONE.

OKAY, .3 OF A POUND, WHICH IS 5 OUNCES.

Narrator: AND TO PROTECT OLD MOSES' BARREL,

THE SANDSTONE IS PACKAGED INSIDE A CARDBOARD CANISTER.

WE ARE LOADED.

LET'S SEE WHAT SANDSTONE IS MADE OF.

SANDSTONE.

WHAT?

THAT'S WHAT IT'S MADE OF.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

THIS IS SANDSTONE CANNONBALL SPEED TEST...

IN 3, 2, 1!

LOVE THAT ECHO IN THE CANYON.

LET'S GO SEE WHAT IT DID.

Narrator: CLEARLY IT ROCKED IT.

Kari: WE GOT OUR SANDSTONE CANNONBALL

TO FIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 1,200 FEET PER SECOND.

NOW, THAT'S THE BUTTER ZONE TO MATCH OUR STEEL CANNONBALL.

NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO LIMESTONE.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE FORMULA,

IT SHOULD TAKE 1/3 OF A POUND TO GET THE LIMESTONE FLYING.

LOADED.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS LIMESTONE SPEED TEST

IN 3, 2, 1.

WOW.

Narrator: AND NOT ONLY DID THAT HAVE ENOUGH OOMPH

TO KNOCK THE GAUGE OVER,

IT WAS ALSO ENOUGH OOMPH

TO MATCH THE STEEL CANNONBALL SPEED.

SO, WE'VE MANAGED TO GET OUR LIMESTONE CANNONBALL

TO 1,200 FEET PER SECOND.

THAT MEANS LIMESTONE IS GOOD TO GO FOR ATTACK.

Narrator: THE FINAL ROCK TO TAKE AIM

IS THE HARDEST AND HEAVIEST STONE CANNONBALL,

THE GRANITE, WHICH MEANS IT NEEDS THE MOST BLACK POWDER.

CLEAR FRONT!

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

THIS IS GRANITE CANNONBALL SPEED TEST

IN 3, 2, 1.

HEY, LOOK. IT'S STILL INTACT.

Kari: AND WASHED.

LET'S CHECK THE HIGH SPEED. SEE HOW FAST IT WENT.

SO, WE JUST FIRED THE GRANITE CANNONBALL,

AND WE REACHED 1,159 FEET PER SECOND.

WE ARE IN THE RANGE THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

NOW IT'S TIME TO FIRE INTO A CASTLE.

Narrator: SO ALL THREE BALLS ARE UP TO SPEED AND READY TO ROCK,

JUST AS SOON AS THE MYTHBUSTERS CAN FIND A CASTLE.

THAT IS THE MOST DISTURBING CASTLE I'VE EVER SEEN.

Narrator: RIGHT AFTER THE BREAK...

TIME FOR BATTLE.

Narrator: ...IT'S THE BALLS-TO-THE-WALL FINALE

OF THE STONE CANNONBALL SAGA.

Grant: IN 3, 2, 1!

EVER SINCE WE STARTED DOING "MYTHBUSTERS,"

WHENEVER WE'VE WANTED TO ASSESS THE KIND OF DAMAGE

THE HUMAN BODY WOULD TAKE

UNDER THE CONDITIONS WE WERE PUTTING IT UNDER,

WE'VE HAD TO USE EITHER DEAD PIGS

OR BUILD RIGS THAT ASSESS THE DAMAGE BODY PART BY BODY PART --

A FOOT, A HAND, A HEAD.

THIS THING, THE SYNDAVER,

OPENS UP WHOLE NEW VISTAS FOR US

IN TERMS OF ASSESSING PHYSICAL DAMAGE FROM OUR EXPERIMENTS.

I'M ONLY JUST STARTING TO GRASP HOW AWESOME THIS IS.

WELCOME BACK.

WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLICATE A CLIP

THAT PURPORTS TO SHOW A SAFE WAY OF LEAPING FROM 35 FEET

INTO A 4 1/2-FOOT-DEEP SWIMMING POOL,

AND WE'VE PRETTY MUCH BUSTED THAT OUTRIGHT.

SO HE'D BE EVEN MORE DEAD.

WE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING WHETHER THERE IS ANY TECHNIQUE AT ALL

THAT CAN HELP YOU SAFELY MAKE SUCH A JUMP.

Narrator: YEP, AND YESTERDAY JAMIE SPENT THE DAY

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH HIS INNER AQUATIC MAMMAL.

[ GROWLS ]

Narrator: BUT IT'S TAKEN ITS TOLL.

I TOOK A LOT OF JUMPS YESTERDAY,

AND BY THE END OF THE DAY I WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN.

THIS MORNING, I WAS STILL IN A LOT OF PAIN.

SO I DECIDED TO CALL OUR ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT,

AND HE SAID THAT, WELL, NOT REALLY,

AS FAR AS THE TISSUE DAMAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT,

BUT THAT THAT IS A WARNING SIGN

THAT I'M TAKING A HECK OF A LOT OF IMPACT

IN MY LOWER BACK,

AND THAT'S AN AREA I REALLY DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH.

SO I'M HANDING IT OVER TO OUR STUNT-GUY, RANDY.

Narrator: JAMIE'S BACK IS TELLING HIM TO BACK OUT,

SO CUE THE STUNT MAN.

ALL RIGHT, RANDY, IT'S ALL DOWN TO YOU, SIR.

35 FEET INTO 4 1/2.

OKAY, SURE.

HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO JUMP RIGHT THERE.

I DIDN'T THINK SO.

FULL MARKS FOR ENTHUSIASM.

Narrator: FULL MARKS FOR ENTHUSIASM,

AND IT'S CLEAR FROM THIS IMPROMPTU PLUNGE

THAT HE HAS THE TECHNIQUE DOWN.

BUT THIS TIME IT'S FOR REAL,

AND IT'S A LONG WAY FROM THE TOP WITH A VERY SHALLOW LANDING.

WILL RANDY JUMP AND COME UP TRUMPS?

ALL RIGHT, HERE GOES THE SCOOP IN 3, 2, 1.

Adam: WOW.

DUDE, I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SURVIVABLE.

HOLD ON, LET'S CHECK THIS OUT.

DUDE.

HE WOULD'VE SURVIVED THAT.

I THINK YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT. HE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED THAT.

HE DIPPED A FEW INCHES BELOW THE LINE,

BUT HE'S SO DECELERATED THAT'S JUST A BUMP ON THE BOTTOM.

THAT'S NOT AN INJURY.

RANDY'S THE MAN. YEAH.

Narrator: RANDY'S THE MAN

BECAUSE HE'S GONE ONE UP ON THE MYTH.

NOT ONLY DID HE TAKE THE FALL FROM THE SAME HEIGHT

INTO THE SAME SHALLOW DEPTH, HE MADE IT OUT INJURY FREE.

RANDY, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. HOW DID IT FEEL?

Randy: IT'S NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE,

BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY JAMIE IS TENDER TODAY.

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A PAINLESS WAY TO LAND,

BUT IT SURE BEATS A SHATTERED PELVIS AND A BROKEN SPINE.

Adam: RANDY JUST SUCCESSFULLY JUMPED SHALLOW ENOUGH

THAT HE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED A 35-FOOT JUMP

INTO 4 1/2-FOOT-DEEP WATER.

I HAVE TO ADMIT,

EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE TESTED SO FAR IN THIS STORY,

I WAS NOT GIVING GOOD ODDS FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT I GUESS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A STUNT MAN

COUNTS FOR SOMETHING.

SO, HOW DO YOU WANT TO CALL THIS?

WELL, AS FAR AS THE CLIP WE STARTED WITH GOES,

EVERYTHING THAT THEY DESCRIBED,

EITHER JUMPING INTO THE POOL STRAIGHT

OR JUMPING INTO THE POOL WITH A MATTRESS ON TOP OF IT,

IS EITHER SUPER DANGEROUS OR EVEN POTENTIALLY LETHAL.

YEAH, IT'S BUSTED.

NOT TO SAY THAT IT COULDN'T BE DONE, THOUGH,

AT LEAST IF YOU'VE GOT DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

AS A STUNT PERSON.

EXACTLY RIGHT, SO,

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

WE DIDN'T.

MY BUTT STILL HURTS.

Narrator: CASTLES -- THEY'RE BIG, OLD, AND MADE OF STONE,

AND WHILE YOU'LL FIND PLENTY IN EUROPE,

IN THE STATES THEY'RE PRETTY RARE.

SO THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE GETTING CREATIVELY MEDIEVAL...

THIS OUGHT TO KEEP THE SAVAGES OUT.

Narrator: ...AND MAKING THEIR OWN.

Tory: NOW, I KNOW THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE OVERKILL

HAVING TWO PALLETS OF SOLID CONCRETE BRICKS,

EACH OF THE BRICKS WEIGHING 80 POUNDS.

BUT IT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION.

AN ACTUAL RAMPART OF A CASTLE, WHICH IS THE BARRIER,

HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BE 6 FEET TO 18 FEET THICK.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN 8-FOOT THICKNESS.

SO THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US A GOOD REPRESENTATION

OF WHAT THAT RAMPART OF A CASTLE WOULD BE.

Narrator: A GREAT REPRESENTATION,

AND WITH THE STURDY CONCRETE RAMPARTS IN PLACE,

EACH MYTHBUSTER HAS A DIFFERENT IDEA

ON WHAT CONSTITUTES A CASTLE.

"LOWER THE DRAWBRIDGE!"

"NO, WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER."

"THEN WE WILL ATTACK!"

"DON'T WORRY, THEY ARE SHOOTING ROCK CANNONBALLS.

I AM NOT SCARED OF THOSE."

Narrator: THAT'S THREE CASTLES TO FACE OFF

AGAINST THREE STONE CANNONBALLS.

BUT HOW WILL THEY KNOW IF THE ROCK BALLS

ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS A STEEL BALL?

WELL, WITH AN OLD MOSES COMPARISON FOR STARTERS.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

THIS IS CONTROL TEST STEEL CANNONBALL

WITH ONE POUND OF BLACK POWDER

IN 3, 2, 1.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Narrator: THERE'S NO DOUBT

THAT THE METAL CANNONBALL JOLTED THE CONCRETE,

AS IT PENETRATED TWO LAYERS AND SHATTERED FOUR BRICKS.

Kari: THAT IS ONE EFFECTIVE CANNONBALL.

THERE'S THE BALL.

THERE IT IS.

ALL RIGHT, LETS SEE HOW THE STONE CANNONBALLS DO.

LET'S SEE WHY THEY USE CANNONS.

Narrator: NOW THAT THEY'VE SEEN WHAT STEEL CAN DO,

IT'S TIME TO TEST THIS MYTH.

WILL THE ROCKS MATCH THE METAL AND BREAK UP ON IMPACT?

WELL, FIRST THEY'RE STARTING WITH THE SANDSTONE.

READY, HARRY.

WITH ENOUGH BLACK POWDER TO FIRE THE BALL

AT THE SET SPEED OF 1,200 FEET PER SECOND...

LOADED.

...THE BALL IS IN OLD MOSES' COURT NOW.

THIS IS SANDSTONE VERSUS THE CASTLE

IN 3, 2, 1!

OH, THAT SOUNDED LIKE DAMAGE TO ME.

THAT WAS A BIG BOOM. BETTER THAN I THOUGHT.

Kari: AWESOME.

THAT DID SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE.

AND IT SHATTERED, MEANING THERE'S NOTHING TO SEND BACK.

Narrator: BUT EVEN THOUGH IT PENETRATED ONE LAYER

AND DAMAGED TWO BRICKS,

THE SOFTER SANDSTONE BALL

COULDN'T MATCH THE DAMAGE OF THE METAL BALL.

SO NEXT IT'S LIMESTONE VERSUS KARI'S DREAM CASTLE.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST ADORABLE CASTLE I'VE EVER SEEN.

NEXT UP WE'RE GOING TO USE THE LIMESTONE BALL

AGAINST KARI'S CASTLE.

NOW, LOOKING AT THIS BALL,

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO DO REALLY WELL ON DAMAGE,

AND IT'S SO POROUS -- IT'S GOT ALL THESE POCKETS --

I THINK IT'S GOING TO SHATTER,

I THINK THIS THING IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

GOOD LUCK.

IN 3, 2, 1.

THAT SOUNDED LIKE A REALLY GOOD DAMAGE TEST TO ME.

Narrator: IT CERTAINLY WAS,

BECAUSE THE LIMESTONE WAS HARD ENOUGH TO DESTROY THREE BRICKS,

CLOSER TO THE DAMAGE THE STEEL BALL CAUSED,

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT DISINTEGRATED ON IMPACT.

Kari: LOOK AT THAT!

THAT WORKS GREAT!

Tory: THE LIMESTONE IS INCREDIBLE!

SHATTERING.

YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE UPSET THAT KARI'S CUTE CASTLE

WITH THE GIANT ORANGE PRINCESS IS DESTROYED,

BUT I MEAN, IT WAS SO WORTH IT WITH THESE RESULTS.

WE DESTROYED A LAYER OF BRICK, AND THE BALL CRUMBLED.

THIS IS LOOKING SO GOOD FOR OUR MYTH RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: LOOKING GOOD FOR THE MYTH,

BUT THE FINAL STONE CANNONBALL IS THE MOST ROCK SOLID OF ALL.

TIME FOR BATTLE.

Narrator: THE GRANITE IS A LOT HARDER

THAN THE PREVIOUS ROCKS,

AND WHILE IT MAY DO SOME DAMAGE, THE QUESTION IS,

WILL IT SHATTER AS THE MYTH SUGGESTS?

GRANITE CANNONBALL INTO THE CASTLE

IN 3, 2, 1.

THAT SOUNDED LIKE SUCH A SMACK.

SOUNDS LIKE SUCCESS, MAN.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE WHAT IT DID.

DEFINITELY SCORED IN THE DAMAGE CATEGORY.

AND LOOK WHAT'S LEFT OF THE CANNONBALL.

I MEAN, WE DID SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE,

ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE STEEL CANNONBALL,

AND IT DISINTEGRATED.

NOW, I'VE SPENT HOURS SCULPTING THIS CANNONBALL,

AND A LOT OF EFFORT WENT INTO BUILDING THIS CASTLE.

BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER

SEEING TWO THINGS I'VE BUILT DESTROYED,

ESPECIALLY WITH THESE RESULTS.

I MEAN, THE GRANITE CANNONBALL DID THE SAME DAMAGE

AS THE STEEL CANNONBALL.

HOWEVER, THE STEEL CANNONBALL YOU COULD HAVE SHOT BACK,

THE GRANITE CANNONBALL -- DESTROYED.

THIS ONE IS PLAUSIBLE.

WANT TO KNOW WHY WE DID WHAT WE DID

AND WHY WE DIDN'T DO WHAT WE DIDN'T?

GO TO discovery.com/ mythbustersaftershow

FOR THE...AFTERSHOW.

AND KEEP THOSE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ROLLING IN.