Ep 10. Boom-Lift Catapult

In this episode of Mythbusters, the team takes on the challenge of testing whether a boom lift can be used as a catapult. The boom lift is a type of machinery commonly used in construction sites to lift workers and materials. The team is intrigued by the idea of using this equipment to launch heavy objects, like cars or boulders.

To start the experiment, the team obtains a boom lift and sets up a large target in a nearby field. The target is a massive wall of cardboard boxes, which will be used to measure the force of impact once the boom lift launches an object at it. The team then begins to gather heavy objects, including a car, a boulder, and a giant tire.

The first test involves launching the car using the boom lift. The team secures the car to the lift and raises it up to a height of 60 feet. They then use a lever to release the car, sending it flying towards the target. However, the car only travels a short distance before crashing to the ground, missing the target completely.

Undeterred, the team moves on to the next test, which involves launching the boulder. The boulder is much heavier than the car, so the team expects it to travel farther. They secure the boulder to the boom lift and raise it up to a height of 80 feet. This time, they use a different release mechanism, hoping to improve the accuracy of the launch. The boulder is released, and the team watches in amazement as it flies over 200 feet before crashing into the target.

With one successful launch under their belt, the team moves on to the final test: launching the giant tire. The tire is even heavier than the boulder, so the team is unsure if the boom lift will be able to handle it. They secure the tire to the lift and raise it up to a height of 100 feet. This time, they use a more powerful release mechanism, hoping to achieve maximum distance. The tire is released, and the team watches as it hurtles towards the target, breaking several boxes before coming to a stop.

After analyzing the data from the three tests, the team concludes that a boom lift can indeed be used as a catapult, but only for certain types of objects. Heavy, dense objects like boulders are much more effective than lighter objects like cars or tires. They also note that the accuracy of the launch is crucial to achieving the desired result. The team agrees that this was one of the more thrilling experiments they have conducted, and they are all eager to take on the next challenge.