It won't necessarily fill the car with one can, but if you've ever used the gel, you can see that it expands a lot more than the foam. Squirt some foam out and it pretty much stays the same size, but the gel will expand a lot. There's probably some science involved. It obviously won't get nearly the results of polyurethane foam, but it makes a much better prank.

ok first off this the way that Mythbusters did this myth is wrong: you are supposed to freeze the cans of shaving cream in liquid nitrogen.Then you are supposed to use pliers to take off the shell of the can, but I can see why they did not do that because it would take too long. Also you are supposed to do it on a cold winter day because the shaving cream will pressurizers the car so when it is opened the shaving cream expands thus leaving the interior in ruins.

ok spartan, what difference does freezing in nitrogen make? ANd how does a cold winter day pressurize the car?

I agree, foundryman.

Spartan? The cans are filled at the factory. How, exactly, will the freezing method and the outside temp affect in ANY way how much is in there?

Confused. Is this about shaving cream on a conveyor belt?

Couple of thoughts here:

Gel cans are usually smaller than regular cans, so even if they do expand more they also have less material to expand with.

I think regardless of the type used there is no way that this myth had a chance of succeeding. Can you imagine if a company was allowed to sell a product that had the ability to swell to that size? Someone would have lost a hand by now trying to use it or accidently denting it or whatever tickles your fancy.

And no matter how cold you make the can, it still is only going to have so much material to expand with.

I know the show likes to try viewer ideas, but this one was quite the dud if you ask me.

They totally messed up! they need to freeze the shaving cream longer! if they did that, they would just need to let it thaw longer! revisit that myth..... NOW!!!!!!

I agree with spartan. Liquid nitrogen helps keep the gases needed for the the shaving cream to expand suspended in it. When the mythbusters put the cans in the freezer, they only partially froze the foam. As a result, the gas escaped as soon as the can was cut open. Plus, the saw they used probaly generated a lot of heat from friction. Then, they skipped shaving gel and went straight to something they new would work. The whole "experiment" didn't seem to scientific to me.

It is all explained in producer dans post.

It all depends on how you interpret the myth. If the plane is stationary, there is no air to create lift, thus no flight. the belt can move as fast as it can, and if the plane only matches it's speed enough to keep it stationary, it will not take off.

In the other hand, if a plane is accelerating on the belt, the air is flowing and lift is being created. Thus, take off.

Friction also has a big part. The more friction in the belt, the more work required from the engine to maintain speed, let alone accelerate.

I didn't take the time to read the other posts, sorry if i sound repeated. I just wish they made the actual myth clearer in the show.

A plane can take off from a belt if it accelerates on the belt. but stationary, it is going no where.

- The Aviator...

how do i post my own ?

i have a boom plan draino and tenfoil balls in a 2 letter bottle shake well and sit and watch it takes time so dont get antsy 5min to 10min and then boom so what do you think myth or bust just try it and see it might be cool it might not just try it my friends!!!!!

Shaving creme didn't work to well. A and B foam was overboard. Why not try freezing a can of Great Stuff, and see what it does when you cut it open and it thaws out.

I have seen every single episode of MythBusters. and with the exception of a couple of boring myths, IE walking on water, underground drum, and such, I have been very happy watching the show, with no complaints. But the shaving cream in a car is the first Myth that i didnt agree with much less like the way it was handled. I have always heard the myth as using Liquid Nitrogen, or dry ice to freeze the cans of foam, and yes it has to be foam shaving cream. once the cans are frozen, then you peel away the can and refreeze the foam in Nitrogen, or dry ice so that it is completely solid. then you place them in the hot car, not in direct sunlight and close the doors. when the door opens it is supposed to basicly explode spraying shaving cream on everything in sight. Ill give them credit they did what the normal person would have done. but in this case it would have been easier to just sparay the foam over everything instead of following the correct steps.

otherwise, happy Mythbusting, and cant wait to see the Mcgyver special.

quote:

Originally posted by mythmod:
grizzledgeezer

Please read the entire title of the thread you're posting on next time. The syntax is correct.

The episode name, the show segment being discussed.

I'm sorry if having all the information complicated things for you, we'll try better next time.

MythMod

I think he's got a good point Mythmod. It is difficult enough to read the thread titles with this horrible color scheme. Having to then try and parse a long title aggravates the matter. If it's necessary to organize the official threads by episode, could it perhaps go from most specific to least? i.e. Segment Name -- Episode Name. This is especially problematic since the episodes are named for the central segment.

Big problem I had with this episode....

They had a camera shot of the full sized plane going over the tarp. Obviously the camera was stationary since the background (skyline, trees, etc...) wasn't moving, yet you could see the plane passing the camera. If the "conveyor belt" and the plan had been going at the same speed, we would not have seen the plane pass the camera.

This one is hard to test because you'll never be able to make sure that the conveyor belt and the plane are going at the same speed.

Stephen

I heard it was pulled off with the GEL. Think about it, the gel expands more than the cream when it comes out of the can. JAMIE & ADAM, PLEASE revisit this one, and use the GEL.

hahahah, teflonsuit you're a funny dude.

Anyway this sounds like it needs a quick revisit.

hey the shaving gel works great but you have to do it right first freeze it the instead of removing the can remove the rubber plug from the bottom or drill a hole in the bottom as to not release the pressure until the gel thalls
then it will be forced out and let the fun begin

OK,
In the episode with the plane on the conveyor belt there is no way that the plane speed AND truck speed were the same. If they were then the plane would not move forward because speed is measured in velocity with respect to km or ground or in this case the conveyor, even though the plane does not send the power to the weels but the prop the plane should (theoretically) not move when the conveyor is pulled from underneath it therefore matching the truck's speed resulting in no air flow to the wing therefore no lift and therefore no takeoff.

quote:

Originally posted by Noctropolis:
OK,
In the episode with the plane on the conveyor belt there is no way that the plane speed AND truck speed were the same. If they were then the plane would not move forward because speed is measured in velocity with respect to km or ground or in this case the conveyor, even though the plane does not send the power to the weels but the prop the plane should (theoretically) not move when the conveyor is pulled from underneath it therefore matching the truck's speed resulting in no air flow to the wing therefore no lift and therefore no takeoff.

Ok, what does this have to do with the shaving cream myth??

What does "because speed is measured in velocity with respect to km or ground" mean in English?

Why not read the thousands and thousands of explanations of why you're wrong? And why the setup you envision is impossible?