Can You Actually Bob For An Apple While Bungee Jumping? | MythBusters

The allure of extreme sports often blurs the lines between what's possible and what's pure fantasy. A particularly audacious commercial depicts a daredevil bungee jumping from a dizzying height of 100 feet, plunging into a barrel filled with apples, and emerging triumphantly with an apple clutched in his teeth. The MythBusters, ever vigilant against the improbable, set out to determine if this seemingly impossible feat could actually be achieved without serious injury.

The Core Questions: Precision, Aim, and Apple Acquisition

Adam and Jamie identified three critical aspects of the myth that needed rigorous investigation. First, could the depth of a bungee jump be controlled with enough precision to avoid hitting the bottom of the barrel, which would undoubtedly lead to severe injury or worse? Second, was it even possible to accurately aim a bungee jump to hit a target as small as a barrel? Finally, assuming both precision and aim were achievable, could a person actually grab an apple with their teeth during the brief moment of submersion?

Their initial plan involved using Buster, their trusty crash test dummy, for the preliminary tests. However, the standard Buster, designed to crumple like a human, wouldn't suffice for the consistent, rigid drops required. Thus, Bungee Buster was born—a new iteration constructed from PVC plumbing parts, filled with sand and water to match Jamie's weight, and designed to maintain a rigid posture during freefall. This allowed for consistent testing of the bungee's calibration.