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Could A Motorcycle Skim The Surface Of Water At High Speed? | MythBusters
MythBusters Jamie and Adam test the myth of whether a motorcycle can ride on water, starting with RC bikes and progressing to full-scale attempts.
Watch on YouTube ↗The digest
The idea of a motorcycle skipping across the surface of a lake, much like a stone, seems like something out of a movie. Yet, this is precisely the myth Jamie and Adam of MythBusters set out to investigate. Inspired by a previous episode where a sports car failed to skip across a lake, the duo tackles a new, more challenging version: a motorcycle riding on water.
Initial Experiments with RC Motorcycles
To safely explore the physics behind this daring feat, Jamie and Adam begin their investigation with remote-controlled (RC) motorcycles. These miniature bikes, equipped with gyroscopes for stability, can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. The initial tests involve riding these RC bikes over a small, controlled body of water, with high-speed cameras capturing every detail. The goal is to observe how the wheels interact with the water's surface at speed and determine if any buoyancy is generated.
After a series of trials, the high-speed footage reveals a crucial insight: the RC motorcycles are not skipping on the water's surface but rather driving through it. Both wheels remain submerged, indicating a lack of true buoyancy. This initial setback prompts the team to rethink their approach and consider alternative methods for achieving water skipping at higher speeds.
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