Go back
my own mythbusters

my own mythbusters

Posers and Puzzles

Vote Up
Vote Down

So in my AP Physics class we were talking about what we should do for the 3 weeks after the AP test in may. My teacher decided that we were going to conduct our very own mythbusters. However, we haven't really found a myth that we can really use. Does anyone have any urban legends/myths that they wish they could test?

Vote Up
Vote Down

ORANGES DON"T LEAVE BRUISES!!!

Vote Up
Vote Down

What about investigating the magical powers of brown paper? There are lots of old-wives' tales about brown-paper bags ... they help ripen some fruit and keep others fresh (?!!?)

But my favourite is brown-paper and vinegar to help bring a bruise out. Fact or fiction?

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by TDR1
So in my AP Physics class we were talking about what we should do for the 3 weeks after the AP test in may. My teacher decided that we were going to conduct our very own mythbusters. However, we haven't really found a myth that we can really use. Does anyone have any urban legends/myths that they wish they could test?
Can an airplane on a backwards-running treadmill still take off?!? 😵

(If you actually get to try this, please please PLEASE post the results here so we can get rid of those annoying airplane/treadmill threads...)

Vote Up
Vote Down

A glass of warm water placed in the freezer freezes faster than a glass of cold water.

Anything dealing with astrology, tarot, charms, predicting lottery numbers . . .anything like that.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Actually i did one.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8162302262003580758

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Coconut
Actually i did one.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8162302262003580758
😴

...what the?!? Oh...a little long, but interesting. The experiment could have been controlled a bit better too, but the results are as you'd expect. Can you get extra credit for a follow-up?

1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by coquette
A glass of warm water placed in the freezer freezes faster than a glass of cold water.

Anything dealing with astrology, tarot, charms, predicting lottery numbers . . .anything like that.
Actually the myth is that water that has just been brought to a full boil, then allowed to cool, will freeze faster than water at the same temperature that hasn't. And I don't know if it's true or not.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Actually the myth is that water that has just been brought to a full boil, then allowed to cool, will freeze faster than water at the same temperature that hasn't. And I don't know if it's true or not.
What are you supposed to do with boiling ice cubes?

Granny

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Actually the myth is that water that has just been brought to a full boil, then allowed to cool, will freeze faster than water at the same temperature that hasn't. And I don't know if it's true or not.
If it is true, it probably has something to do with the purity of the water. Depending on how many particles are in the water, I think it can effect freezing time. Especially if there are no particles in the water, then it can't freeze. Not really sure though, just going on what little knowledge I have and filling the whole with logic.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by GalaxyShield
If it is true, it probably has something to do with the purity of the water. Depending on how many particles are in the water, I think it can effect freezing time. Especially if there are no particles in the water, then it can't freeze. Not really sure though, just going on what little knowledge I have and filling the whole with logic.
Any impurities in water will lower the temperature at which it freezes (hence polar seas are sub-zero) and its why we put salt on our paths.

Hard tap-water contains lots of calcium salts (amongst others) and this will affect the freezing point. Boling the water first will have no effect.

Some tap-water has 'temporary' hardness cause by bicarbonate molecules in solution. Not sure of chemistry but when heated (I don't think actual boiling is necessary) these bicarbonates change into insoluble carbonates and leave the nasty scale on the inside of your kettle.

THEREFORE providing the initial tap-water contained bicarbonates boiling will remove some of the dissolved salts making the water EASIER to freeze.

An interesting experiment maybe to COMPARE water from different sources regarding the boiling/freezing thing.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Any impurities in water will lower the temperature at which it freezes (hence polar seas are sub-zero) and its why we put salt on our paths.

Hard tap-water contains lots of calcium salts (amongst others) and this will affect the freezing point. Boling the water first will have no effect.

Some tap-water has 'temporary' hardness cause by bicarbonate m ...[text shortened]... xperiment maybe to COMPARE water from different sources regarding the boiling/freezing thing.
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Water+softness

1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

I have one. What would happen if one were to ingest one quarter liter of dry ice?

And what if one were to create frozen nitrogen? Would it have the same properties of dry ice?

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Any impurities in water will lower the temperature at which it freezes (hence polar seas are sub-zero) and its why we put salt on our paths.

Hard tap-water contains lots of calcium salts (amongst others) and this will affect the freezing point. Boling the water first will have no effect.

Some tap-water has 'temporary' hardness cause by bicarbonate m ...[text shortened]... xperiment maybe to COMPARE water from different sources regarding the boiling/freezing thing.
Listen up dudes. Granny has the correct answer, again. If you pour hot water into an 8oz. glass, and pour cold water into an 8oz glass (to the top); the hot water glass has less water in it than the cold water glass. There is more space between the water molecules therefore less water freezes before more water. Simple physics. Case closed. And, as we say in texas, if it isn't true ....it should be.

GRANNY.

Vote Up
Vote Down

The point of boiling the water first, then having a race to freeze it is interesting. I don't believe that any of the theorists have it right, though.

The point, I think, would go to the solubility of gases in water. Atmospheric gases are not as soluble in hot water as in cold water, and "pure water," as mentioned above, would be water with NO impurities, including oxygen, and that would freeze faster.

So, you have your project.