MythBusters · Video summary
Could A Thrown Drink Cup Smash Through A Windshield? | MythBusters | S6 E07 | Full Episode
MythBusters tests if a thrown drink cup can kill, and if movie action heroes can truly hang from helicopters. Results reveal windshield design protects drivers, and hanging skills are not as glamorous as Hollywood portrays.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key takeaways
- 🎯The mass and composition of a projectile significantly affect its impact force; a slush drink, with its combination of ice and liquid, delivered a higher impact force than plain soda or soda with ice.17:51
- 🎯The ability to hang from a ledge is highly dependent on ledge thickness and grip strength, with typical hang times for an average person being around one minute on a 4-inch ledge, drastically decreasing to seconds or less on thinner ledges.19:20
- 🚀Recognize that physical limitations in grip strength and endurance mean that movie scenes of indefinite hanging are unrealistic; prepare for a short duration of strenuous activity if in a similar real-world situation.23:07
- 🎯Even highly trained individuals can only hang for a short duration (around 14 seconds) on very thin ledges (1/2 inch), debunking the movie trope of heroes hanging indefinitely.24:20
- 🎯Modern laminated windshields are designed with layers of glass and plastic that effectively absorb impact energy, preventing projectiles like thrown cups from penetrating and causing lethal injury to occupants.31:05
- 🎯The downdraft from a helicopter's rotor blades, even during takeoff, generates a force of only about 50-130 g, which is insignificant compared to the weight of a person and does not pose a serious threat to someone trying to board.34:04
Chapters
- 0:01🎯 Introduction and Myth Setup
- 1:54🎯 The Littering Scenario Description
- 2:31🎯 Experiment: Can a Cup Pierce a Windshield?
- 2:59🎯 Firing the Cups and Measuring Force
- 6:36🎯 Climb and Grab Test from Heights
- 16:33🎯 Impact of Different Beverage Contents
- 23:34🎯 Hanging Performance of Action Stunt Person
- 31:05🎯 Windshield Construction and Impact Absorption
- 33:10🎯 Simulation of Helicopter Downdraft and Impact
- 38:47🎯 Results of Impact Tests
- 39:32🎯 Can a Thrown Cup Be Lethal?
- 40:15🎯 Climbing Into a Helicopter Myth Test
The digest
High-Level Overview
This episode investigates two popular myths: whether a Styrofoam soda cup thrown from a moving car can penetrate an oncoming vehicle’s windshield and cause fatal injury, and whether a person can realistically hang onto and climb into a helicopter skid while it takes off, as often portrayed in Hollywood films. Through carefully designed experiments involving air cannons, crash test dummies, and professional climbers, the MythBusters team explores the physics and biomechanics behind these cinematic clichés to determine their plausibility and real-world danger.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 7-minute article, 10 more sections, and every new episode from MythBusters and the creators you follow.
- Detailed Investigation
- Part 1: Can a Thrown Soda Cup Kill an Oncoming Driver?
- Part 2: Can You Hang on to a Helicopter Skid and Climb Inside While It’s Taking Off?
- Part 3: Testing an Aluminum Soda Can Impact
- Key Frameworks and Models
- Force Measurement with Load Cell and Air Cannon
- Ledge Hang Time vs. Thickness
- Helicopter Downforce Simulation
- Practical Implications & Takeaways
- Action-Oriented Summary
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