Group+7

Script....

Mythbusters & The Scientific Method =1. Explain the myth that you wish to investigate:= Rush Hour 2 - Detective Carter (Chris Tucker) is fighting with Hu Li (Zhang Ziyi), when Hu Li manages to stab him in the chest with a sword. She pushes him back into a pole then pushes him over, where he knocks over a pole and knocks her out. He then sits up gasping and takes a wad of $100 dollar bills out from within his jacket. The myth is, can a wad of money protect you from being stabbed by a sword - (or another extremely sharp object)? =2. What is your prediction and why do you believe this?= Reilly - The sharp object will penetrate through some of the bills, but will not fully go through. [EXPLANATION] Andy - The object will fully penetrate through a wad of bills the same thickness as portrayed in the movie [EXPLANATION] Scott - The sharp object will be able to penetrate the 100 bills because 100 pieces of cotton paper is not particularly strong or thick especially when being faced with a sharp object being thrust into them with the full force of a human being. =**3. What are the main physics concepts you will be considering (e.g. Inertia, Newton's 3rd Law, conservation of Momentum, etc.)**= The physics concepts and topics that we will be considering are kinematics (the velocity, diplacement, acceleration, and force of the blade), as well as Newton's 3rd law (action-reaction), as well as pressure and pulling forces acting on the money; pressure and stress (the measure of the average force per unit of area on a surface, Newton metres, for example, or Pa, pascals). =4.What are the variables that you will be measuring in your experiment? What are the controls in your experimental setup= . (A control could be that you have to wear rubber gloves so that you don't sweat on your equipment)  =Variables= = = =5. Describe your experiment in point form= Steps of the experiment: =6. How do you think you will analyze and present your data (types of charts, graphs, pictures, etc.)=
 * Controls**
 * The stabbing will be done by the same person on all tests (or possibly a machine that we can calibrate to stab at the exact amount of force needed)
 * A force meter will verify that the stabbing was done at the right force
 * Guide rails for the sharp object, so the stabbing will be done to the same spot every time
 * All cotton paper used will come from the same "batch", for consistency
 * Thickness of the cotton paper wad
 * composition of paper (25% cotton? 60% cotton? 100%?)
 * Using the video from the movie, find the time it took for the stab as well as the distance the sword was moved (using Huli's height and the golden ratio to approximate her arm length) in order to find acceleration and force
 * Estimate the weight, point, blade thickness, and blade width of the sword, as well as the thickness of the wad of bills
 * Scale down the force used as well as the thickness of the bills to the same degree as the knife is from the sword in the movie
 * Stab with the correct amount of force down guide rails to ensure accuracy, making sure to measure with a force meter beforehand (either by person, or with a machine)
 * Count the number of pieces of paper with holes in them, to determine the effectiveness
 * If the wad was thick enough to stop the sharp object, remove thickness and test how many it would take in order for the sword to go straight through. If the wad was pierced, add thickness to see how much paper it would take to stop the blade.
 * Perform the test with two kinds of cotton paper (25/75 linen and cotton, and 100% cotton)

We will show the sword fight from the film and show graphs and videos of our data from the experiments. As well, we could show graphs of paper wad thickness vs. amount of paper pierced with same force, as well as number of sheets pierced vs. amount of force given.

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

Materials 100% cotton paper 75% cotton 25% linen paper Knife Force meter Weights

Procedures 1) Prepare stack of cotton paper 2) Drop knife straight down from predetermined height, measuring force on the force meter to confirm calculations 3) Drop knife on stack of bills 4) Record number of bills stabbed through 5) Repeat experiment with more bills if knife went clean through, or less bills if it didn't go through. 6) Record results

Paul's friend's flowery metallic letter opener (possible candidate) Blade length: 5.5 inches Handle: 3.6 inches Weight:

COMMENTS:

An interesting project. Looks like you have done some good thinking here.

Remember the point of the blade will be important.

You may be able to drop the blade from different heights to produce the force you want. This might be easier to control.