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• SamSam commented on Explaining physics to a TV camera
  A couple of not-great sources quote that the tensile strength of a windshield is in the order of 10,000 psi. [1], [2] If the numbers are anywhere near accurate, then I wonder about this story. The cup would probably instantly start flattening and absorbing the force, so I would think that 1/2 inch square or more could easily be touching the window. That's only 240 psi max, according to her calculations, so it seems that the cup shouldn't have broken the window....
• Takuan commented on Explaining physics to a TV camera
  yet a man can punch through a windshield....
• masamunecyrus commented on Explaining physics to a TV camera
  @#1: I've been wondering for years how long it would be until the Mythbusters just get an in-house physicist. It'd solve a lot of their problems very quickly if they were any good....
• airshowfan commented on Explaining physics to a TV camera
  #27: "A couple of not-great sources quote that the tensile strength of a windshield is in the order of 10,000 psi... The cup would probably instantly start flattening and absorbing the force, so ... That's only 240 psi max". Ok, but those are not the numbers you should be comparing. Don't confuse the inwards pressure of the cup with the sideways tension on the glass. The tension can be a lot greater. Imagine pinning a string horizontally to two pins, fairly taut, with a gap in between. Now imagine you hook your finger over the middle of the string and...
• SteveKiwi commented on Explaining physics to a TV camera
  This is going to look great when Mythbusters do it. Especially when they put the dynamite in the cup. Because they can....