MythBusters · Video summary
Can A Mattress Cushion A Three Story Fall Into A Pool? | MythBusters
The MythBusters investigate a movie myth about surviving a three-story fall into a shallow pool by throwing a mattress in first. They test the myth using crash test dummies and a hyper-realistic cadaver, then explore techniques for safely diving from extreme heights.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key takeaways
- 💀Dropping directly into 4.5 feet of water from 35 feet results in a 50 G impact, which is considered lethal.04:24
- 💥Landing on a mattress from 35 feet into 4.5 feet of water results in an 86 G impact, significantly worse than landing directly in water.05:33
- 🔬The S.I.N.D.A.V.E.R. is a medically accurate, hyper-realistic surgical training dummy used to assess internal injuries.07:14
- 🦴A direct fall into shallow water causes a shattered pelvis and paralyzing spinal cord damage.11:07
- 🤕Landing on a mattress causes even more severe injuries, including a completely disrupted pelvis, multiple spinal injuries, and dislocated joints.12:21
- 🌊Water resistance increases in direct proportion to the speed of impact, meaning higher falls can allow for better deceleration if the technique is correct.19:09
Chapters
- 0:00🏨 Introduction to the Myth
- 0:47💧 Testing with Buster (Water vs. Mattress)
- 10:04💀 Introducing the S.I.N.D.A.V.E.R.
- 15:32🩺 SinDaver's Drops and Injury Assessment
- 24:54🏋️ Training for a Safe Dive
- 35:39🤸 Randy's 35-Foot Dive
- 38:16🚫 Conclusion: Myth Busted
The digest
The MythBusters take on a classic movie trope: surviving a perilous three-story fall into a shallow swimming pool by first tossing in a mattress. Inspired by a scene from the show Burn Notice, where a character escapes danger by jumping from a hotel balcony onto a mattress floating in a 4.5-foot deep pool, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman set out to determine if this daring feat is fact or fiction.
The Setup: Testing the Mattress Myth
To accurately test the myth, the team needed a controlled environment that replicated the scenario. They found a suitable pool in Oakland with a shallow end exactly 4.5 feet deep, mirroring the conditions described in the myth. For their initial tests, they employed Buster, their trusty crash test dummy, equipped with an accelerometer to measure the G-forces experienced upon impact. The plan was to drop Buster from a height of 35 feet (approximately three stories) in two different scenarios: first, directly into the shallow water, and then onto a standard innerspring mattress floating in the pool.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 4-minute article, 5 more sections, and every new episode from MythBusters and the creators you follow.
- Buster's Big Plunge: Water vs. Mattress
- Introducing the S.I.N.D.A.V.E.R.: A New Level of Realism
- Seeking a Safe Landing: The Stuntman's Technique
- The Ultimate Test: Randy's 35-Foot Dive
- Myth Busted: The Mattress is a Menace, Skill is Key
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