Street Science (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Flying Saucers - full transcript

Man: WHOO!

[ GLASS SHATTERING ]

WELL, THAT DIDN'T WORK.

Delaney: CAN A LITTLE
SCIENCE AND A RACE CAR

PERFECT THE CLASSIC TABLECLOTH TRICK?

Householder: HERE IT COMES!

LET'S SEE HOW FAR WE
CAN GET WITH AIR POWER.

AND WE PLAY A POPULAR PRANK

USING A LITTLE BIT OF
AERODYNAMIC ENGINEERING.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO YOUR HOUSE NEXT?

-NO. -I CAN TRY.



IT'S ALL ABOUT TRIAL... OH.

...AND ERROR.

-WHOA! -WHOO!

AMAZING.

I FEEL LIKE A GHOSTBUSTER.

WELL, I GUESS YOU DID THAT.

MY NAME IS KEVIN DELANEY.

I'VE BEEN SHOWING OFF THE
MAGIC OF SCIENCE FOR YEARS,

EVERYWHERE FROM MUSEUMS
TO LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOWS.

SCIENCE IS ALL AROUND US,
AND I WANT THE WORLD TO SEE IT,

SO I'M COMBINING EVERYDAY ELEMENTS

IN WAYS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.

[ SCREAMING ]

I'VE GOT A TEAM OF EXPERTS
AND HIGH-TECH CAMERAS



THAT WILL REVEAL THE
SCIENCE THAT SURROUNDS US

IN WAYS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

I'M TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS.

THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."

WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF AS MAGIC

CAN ALWAYS BE EXPLAINED
WITH A LITTLE SCIENCE.

AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS US
TO THIS LOCAL RESTAURANT,

WHERE I'VE BEEN GIVEN
THE GO-AHEAD BY THE STAFF

TO ATTEMPT A CLASSIC MAGICIAN'S TRICK.

JOINING ME ALONGSIDE MY
SLO-MO EXPERT, DARREN DYK,

AND ENGINEER, NICK HOUSEHOLDER,

IS THE CO-STAR OF MY TRICK, INERTIA.

HAVE YOU GUYS EVER SEEN THAT MAGIC TRICK

WHERE THEY CAN PULL A TABLECLOTH OUT

AND EVERYTHING'S STILL THERE?

I THINK THAT THIS WOULD
BE A REALLY GOOD PLACE

TO TRY THAT OUT. IT'S A MAGIC TRICK.

WHO SAYS I'M NOT A MAGICIAN?

[ LAUGHS ] NOTHING UP YOUR SLEEVES?

NOTHING UP MY SLEEVES EXCEPT FOR ARMS...

AND ALSO HANDS.

I WANT TO CAPTURE IT ALL IN SLOW MOTION.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, HI, EVERYBODY. I'M KEVIN.

HAS ANYONE EVER SEEN
THAT OLD MAGICIAN'S TRICK

WHERE THE MAGICIAN PULLS THE TABLECLOTH OUT

FROM UNDERNEATH A COMPLETELY SET TABLE

AND EVERYTHING IS STILL STANDING?

ON CARTOONS.

ON CARTOONS.

WELL, I'VE NEVER TRIED THIS BEFORE,

BUT I'M NOT ONE TO BACK
DOWN FROM A CHALLENGE,

SO I'M GONNA GIVE IT A SHOT.

I'M GONNA COUNT DOWN 3, 2, 1,

AND THEN I'M GONNA PULL THE CLOTH,

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS
TO EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE.

3... 2... 1.

Man: WHOO!

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

Woman: OH, MY GOD.

WELL, THAT DIDN'T WORK.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Delaney: WHEN YOU PULL THE
TABLECLOTH AWAY TOO SLOWLY,

THE FRICTION BETWEEN THE
PLATES AND THE TABLECLOTH

MAKES THE PLATES MOVE
RIGHT ALONG WITH THE CLOTH.

AND DARREN SEES SOMETHING ELSE.

SO, IN SLOW MOTION, YOU
CAN TELL THAT THE ISSUE HERE

IS PROBABLY HUMAN ERROR.

KEVIN IS LIFTING THE TABLECLOTH
BEFORE HE PULLS IT OUT

RATHER THAN JUST PULLING IT OUT STRAIGHT,

SO THE PLATES ON THE FRONT
OF THE TABLE ARE GETTING LIFTED,

WHEREAS THE PLATES ON THE BACK OF THE TABLE

JUST HAVE THE TABLECLOTH
LEAVING FROM UNDERNEATH THEM.

WELL, THE SPAGHETTI'S STILL ON THE TABLE.

I'VE MANAGED TO SAVE MY
OWN DINNER... NOT TOO BAD.

SO, WHY DO WE THINK THIS DIDN'T WORK TODAY?

YOU'RE NOT A GOOD MAGICIAN.

I'M A TERRIBLE MAGICIAN,
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

Woman: YOU HAVEN'T PRACTICED ENOUGH.

THAT'S ALSO TRUE.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS THAT
SCIENCE WAS NOT ON MY SIDE.

YOU SEE, AN OBJECT AT
REST IS GOING TO STAY AT REST

UNTIL ACTED UPON BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE.

AND UNLESS THAT FORCE IS GREAT ENOUGH

TO OVERCOME THE FRICTION
OF THE OBJECTS ON THE TABLE,

THOSE OBJECTS ARE GOING TO MOVE.

ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS
TO KIND OF OVERCOME THAT

IS TO INCREASE THE SPEED

AT WHICH WE CAN MOVE THE TABLECLOTH.

Delaney: HERE, I'M PULLING THE TABLECLOTH

AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR.

EVEN OUTSIDE OF HUMAN ERROR,

IT'S CLEARLY NOT FAST
ENOUGH TO OVERCOME FRICTION.

SO HOW FAST DO YOU HAVE TO PULL?

IF WE WERE TO TIE THE TABLECLOTH

TO A RACE CAR

AND HAVE THE RACE CAR MOVE THE TABLECLOTH

INSTEAD OF MY HUMAN ARMS,

WE MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT RESULT.

DO YOU THINK THAT SOUNDS POSSIBLE?

OH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

WELL, I DIDN'T DO THAT VERY WELL.

NO, YOU DID NOT. YEAH, I'M SURPRISED

YOU DIDN'T GET SPAGHETTI
ALL OVER YOURSELF, MAN.

YEAH, I FLATTENED MYSELF
BACK ON THE WALL LIKE A MOTH.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

♪♪

Delaney: TO FIND OUT HOW FAST

THE TABLECLOTH MUST BE PULLED BACK,

WE'RE PAYING A VISIT TO A
LOCAL STUNT-CAR LEGEND

FOR SOME HELP.

I'M HERE WITH THE GREAT BOBBY ORE.

AND BOBBY'S GONNA HELP US
OUT WITH AN EXPERIMENT TODAY.

BUT, BOBBY, CAN WE GO
FOR A LITTLE RIDE FIRST?

-OH, YEAH. OKAY. -THANK YOU, SIR.

FOR SURE.

YOU ALWAYS INTRODUCE
YOURSELF WITH A HANDSHAKE.

-I AGREE. -ALL RIGHT, COME ON.

LET'S GET YOU IN THE CAR. ALL RIGHT.

PUT ON THE OL' BRAIN BUCKET.

SO, WE'RE GONNA GO FOR A
NICE, SMOOTH, LEISURELY DRIVE.

IS THAT RIGHT? YOU BET.

SOUNDS GREAT TO ME. YOU BET.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE WEARING THE BRAIN BUCKETS.

RIGHT, EXACTLY.

ARE YOU READY?

WE ARE READY.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE? YEP.

YOU SURE? YES, SIR.

[ TIRES SQUEAL ]

BOBBY AND HIS CREW ARE
TAKING ME OUT FOR A SPIN

TO SHOW ME HOW FAST
THEY'RE CAPABLE OF GOING.

AFTER ALL, WE'RE GONNA NEED A LOT OF SPEED

TO OVERCOME THE FORCES OF FRICTION

WHEN I TRY TO YANK THAT TABLECLOTH AGAIN.

IN ADDITION TO SPEED,

THERE'S SOME SERIOUS
FRICTION AT WORK IN BOBBY'S 360s.

FRICTION IS USUALLY HARD TO SEE,

BUT AS DARREN'S FLIR
THERMAL CAMERA REVEALS,

WHEN THE TIRES IMPACT THE PAVEMENT,

THE SURFACE HEATS UP.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE MATERIAL
COLLISION PRODUCES ENERGY

THAT HAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO,

AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE RED
AND WHITE AREAS OF THE IMAGE,

WHICH INDICATE THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURES.

IN SLOW MOTION, WE CAN ALSO SEE THE HEAT

BEING CREATED BY THE FRICTION

BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE GROUND.

BOBBY CALLS THIS "SMOKING THE TIRES."

[ LAUGHS ]

MEANWHILE, OUR BUILD TEAM
PREPARES OUR LUNCH TABLE

FOR A SUPERSIZED EXPERIMENT.

BY CHANGING TO A SILK TABLECLOTH,

WE'RE REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FRICTION.

WE'RE ALSO ATTACHING THE TABLECLOTH

TO A 330-FOOT ROPE WITH
A STRAIGHT METAL BAR,

WHICH WILL PROVIDE A SOLID
APPLICATION OF OUTSIDE FORCE

AS SOON AS THE CAR GETS GOING.

WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE
HUMAN ERROR OUT OF THE MIX,

BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T DETERMINED
HOW FAST WE NEED TO GO.

READY TO PULL OUT SOME TABLECLOTHS?

WE'LL GIVE IT A SHOT.

IF ANYBODY CAN DO IT, THIS GUY CAN.

HECK YEAH.

HE'S A BETTER MAGICIAN THAN WE ARE.

[ LAUGHTER ] Delaney: A LOT OF FOLKS

HAVE COME OUT TO BOBBY'S PLACE TODAY

TO WATCH THE STUNT.

SO, YOU MAY HAVE PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER

AS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.

WE'VE GOT THIS BEAUTIFUL SETUP HERE,

AND WE'RE GONNA SEE IF WE
CAN'T RIP THAT TABLECLOTH OUT

FROM UNDERNEATH ALL THAT
STUFF WITHOUT ANYTHING MOVING.

NOW, THIS IS OUR FIRST SHOT.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT HAPPEN?

DO YOU THINK IT'LL WORK?

I SEE EVERYTHING GOING OFF THE TABLE.

YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

YOU LOOK A LITTLE SKEPTICAL, SIR.

DO YOU HAVE A PREDICTION?

THAT'S A TABLE SET FOR 16.

IT IS A TABLE SET FOR 16.

I DON'T REALLY THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE IT.

YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE...?

WELL, YOU KNOW... I DON'T
THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE.

...SCIENCE IS ABOUT TRYING THINGS

AND TRYING THINGS AND TRYING THINGS

UNTIL YOU LEARN SOMETHING.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GIVE IT A SHOT.

Delaney: IT'S TIME TO FIND
OUT IF THE CAR'S HIGH SPEED

AND A STRAIGHT PULL FROM THE ROPE

WILL BE ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE FRICTION

AND LEAVE THE DISHES AND FOOD UNDISTURBED.

ALL RIGHT, BOBBY, YOU READY?

-READY. -READY, READY.

ALL RIGHT. ON MY CUE.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

3... 2... 1.

HIT IT.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

[ ENGINE REVS ]

Householder: [ Laughing ] OH!

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

BOBBY'S CAR HITS 80 MILES PER HOUR.

BUT AS YOU CAN TELL BY
THESE TOP-HEAVY GLASSES

AND CUPCAKES SPILLING OVER,

THERE'S STILL TOO MUCH
FRICTION TO OVERCOME.

[ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ]

BOTH CHICKEN BUCKETS SURVIVED.

THE CUPCAKES DID NOT
SURVIVE, SO I APOLOGIZE.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
OTHER TRICKS UP OUR SLEEVES

THAT WE CAN MAYBE ENSURE
A LITTLE BIT LESS FRICTION

THAT COULD KEEP OUR
WHOLE DINNER PRETTY SOLID.

FOR OUR SECOND ATTEMPT,
WE'RE REDUCING FRICTION

BY ADDING A LAYER OF
PLASTIC TO THE TABLETOP

AND ADDING MORE WEIGHT TO OUR SETTINGS.

AND BOBBY IS GONNA UP HIS
SPEED TO 100 MILES PER HOUR.

ALL RIGHT. ON MY CUE.

3... 2... 1. [ ENGINE STARTS ]

HIT IT!

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

[ ENGINE REVS ]

LOOK AT IT GO!

THAT'S AMAZING.

HERE IT COMES!

Delaney: WE'RE TAKING
SCIENCE TO THE STREET,

THIS TIME TO A LOCAL DRAG STRIP.

WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE
HOW FAST YOU HAVE TO GO

TO PULL A TABLECLOTH OUT FROM
UNDERNEATH ALL THE TABLEWARE

WITHOUT KNOCKING IT ALL ON THE GROUND.

TO FIND OUT, LOCAL LEGEND BOBBY ORE

IS TAKING US UP TO 100 MILES PER HOUR.

3... 2... 1. [ ENGINE STARTS ]

HIT IT!

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

LOOK AT IT GO!

THAT'S AMAZING.

HERE IT COMES! THAT'S AMAZING.

[ CROWD CHEERING ]

YEAH!

AMAZING!

I FEEL LIKE A GHOSTBUSTER.

SO WHY DID THE SECOND ATTEMPT SUCCEED

WHILE THE FIRST ONE FAILED?

INERTIA IS THE FORCE THAT KEEPS
THE ITEMS ON THE TABLE IN PLACE.

BUT THE FIRST ATTEMPT SUFFERS
FROM SPEEDS THAT ARE TOO SLOW,

WHICH CREATES TOO MUCH FRICTION

AND MAKES THE TABLE SETTINGS TOPPLE.

ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT,
THE SPEED AND THE PLASTIC

HAVE ALLOWED US TO REDUCE
THE AMOUNT OF FRICTION,

ALLOWING INERTIA TO DO ITS JOB

AND KEEP THE FOOD ITEMS ON THE TABLE.

WELL DONE, SIR. WELL DONE.

AND THE DISHES WERE UNHARMED.

THE FLOWERS ARE HERE. LET'S HAVE SOME PIE.

100 MILES PER HOUR IS
THE MAGIC NUMBER NEEDED

TO PULL OFF THIS REMARKABLE FEAT,

ALTHOUGH THE FRICTION-REDUCING
PLASTIC DIDN'T HURT, EITHER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A
SET TABLE READY TO GO.

Ore: DID IT EVEN MOVE?

- IT DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL.
- NOTHING MOVED AT ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

THANKS. ENJOYED IT, BOTH OF YA.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE
IT WITHOUT YOU, BOBBY.

I APPRECIATE IT. I ENJOYED IT, YEAH.

HAVE YOU EVER PRANKED YOUR NEIGHBOR

BY THROWING BATHROOM TISSUE
IN A TREE OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSE?

SHAME ON YOU. THAT'S RUDE.

BESIDES, THERE'S A MUCH
MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT...

HARNESSING THE POWER OF AIRFLOW.

HEY, MAN. WHAT'S UP?

WE'VE GOT AN AWFUL LOT
OF BATHROOM TISSUE HERE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE NOTICED THIS.

-SOME B.T. -IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD.

DON'T WORRY, I'M FEELING FINE.

YOU EVER PRANK SOMEBODY WHEN YOU WERE A KID

BY THROWING A ROLL OF
PAPER INTO THEIR TREE?

YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER DONE THAT.

REALLY? GOOD FOR YOU. GOOD FOR YOU.

I THINK IT'S A RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL THING

TO DO TO YOUR NEIGHBOR.

AND YOU SHOULD NEVER DO
IT, AND NO ONE EVER SHOULD.

YEAH, THE CLEANUP WOULD BE NASTY.

BUT IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT,

YOU WOULD WANT TO DO IT EFFICIENTLY

SO YOU COULD GET AWAY.

WE HAVE A ROLL OF B.T. HERE, OKAY?

I HAVE THIS OVER HERE, AND
WE'VE PUT THIS ON A ROLLER.

AND SO WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO...

[ AIR BLOWING ]

[ LAUGHS ]

YEAH, I'D SAY THAT'S PRETTY EFFICIENT.

YEAH, I THINK SO.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO TRY THIS OUT.

WELL, I GUESS YOU DID THAT.

THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I THINK WE NEED TO GO TRY
THIS ON A MUCH BIGGER SCALE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE BOSS' HOUSE.

I SAY LET'S DO IT.

♪♪

WE'RE GONNA PRANK THE BOSS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

PRANK HIM.

OUR BOSS IS ASKING FOR A
BATHROOM-TISSUE EXPERIMENT,

AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM
ONE RIGHT IN HIS FRONT YARD

USING A FUNDAMENTAL
PRINCIPLE IN AERODYNAMICS.

WE HAVEN'T TRIED THIS BEFORE,

SO OUR MISSION IS TO SEE
IF WE CAN ROLL HIS HOUSE

IN UNDER FIVE MINUTES
OR BEFORE WE GET CAUGHT.

[ AIR BLOWING ]

ALL RIGHT. I'M MOVING IT.

ALL RIGHT, MAN.

ALL RIGHT.

Delaney: OUR BOSS MAY NOT BE AS POPULAR

AS HE THINKS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVEN THE MAIL CARRIER

AND HIS NEIGHBOR BETTY WANT TO HELP OUT.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? HOW YOU DOING, SIR?

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? PRETTY GOOD.

THIS LOOKS FUN. YOU WANT TO TRY IT?

ON THE COUNT OF 3. YOU READY?

OKAY.

1... 2... 3.

[ AIR BLOWING ]

YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE, RIGHT?

WELL, I FIGURE I'LL GET TO
KNOW THEM DURING THE TRIAL.

[ LAUGHS ]

Betty: I JUST CAME OVER TO SEE

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU
DOING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE'RE DEMONSTRATING
A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE.

YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL
JOB. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ARE YOU GONNA DO THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD?

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO YOUR HOUSE NEXT?

-NO! -I CAN TRY.

I HAVE... WE HAVE A LOT.

NO!

OH, YOU WANT TO TRY IT? YES.

YOU LOAD THAT THING UP
BEFORE YOU GIVE IT TO ME.

DON'T YOU WORRY, DON'T YOU WORRY.

I'LL MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU.

GOD, I DON'T WANT AN UNLOADED THING.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

I'LL GET MY YARD MAN

TO ROLL THIS UP AND SAVE IT FOR ME.

I COULD USE IT.

ALL RIGHT. SO, I'LL HOLD IT UP HERE.

ALL RIGHT. 1, 2, 3.

THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

I UNROLLED THAT TOILET PAPER

QUICKER THAN I'VE EVER DONE IT BEFORE.

I'M VERY IMPRESSED. YOU'RE A NATURAL.

I AM A NATURAL. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, BETTY.

THAT WAS A GOOD HUG.

I MAY COME BACK FOR MORE.

-NO PROBLEM. -OKAY, BYE-BYE.

♪♪

SO, WHAT WE'RE SEEING
HERE IS THAT THIS LEAF BLOWER

IS PUSHING A HUGE AMOUNT
OF AIR ABOVE THE TOILET PAPER.

THIS IS BOTH CREATING A FORWARD FORCE

AND CREATING AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE.

UNDERNEATH THE TOILET PAPER,

THERE IS AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE

WHICH IS CREATING LIFT.

THESE WORKING TOGETHER IS WHAT'S CAUSING

THE TOILET PAPER TO MOVE
SO FAR THROUGH SPACE.

AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY
WHAT HELPS AIRPLANES FLY.

BERNOULLI'S PRINCIPLE...

WHEN FAST-MOVING AIR MOVES OVER AN OBJECT,

IT CREATES AN AREA OF LOW
PRESSURE THAT GIVES IT LIFT.

SO WHEN WE BLOW AIR OVER
THE TOILET PAPER, IT WORKS.

IT GIVES IT THAT LITTLE BIT OF LIFT.

SO WE CAN BLOW IT UP INTO THE TREES.

AND IF DANIEL BERNOULLI WERE HERE...

AND I HOPE HIS GHOST
IS... HE'D BE VERY ANGRY.

AND I HOPE HE HAUNTS
ME, BECAUSE I DESERVE IT.

SHOULD WE GO? Dyk: LET'S DO IT.

Delaney: DARREN AND I ACHIEVED OUR GOAL

AND PLASTERED THE ENTIRE
HOUSE IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.

NOW IT'S TIME TO GET OUT.

♪♪

AIR PRESSURE REALLY MADE
THIS BATHROOM TISSUE FLY,

BUT COMING UP, WE GET EXPLOSIVE.

BUT FIRST, I WANT TO SEE

IF WE CAN USE AIR TO MOVE A PERSON.

[ AIR HISSING ]

Delaney: WE'RE HITTING THE STREETS,

EXPLORING THE SCIENCE OF AIR POWER.

I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO USE AIR POWER

AND A FEW EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

TO MAKE A HUMAN FLOAT.

THAT ISN'T WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

-I'VE HEARD... -YES.

...THAT THERE'S A THING YOU WANT TO MAKE.

YES. IT'S A HOVERCRAFT.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HOVERING...

OKAY... AND CRAFTING.

OH. AND I FEEL LIKE I COULD

PUT THOSE INTERESTS TOGETHER
AND MAKE SOMETHING INTERESTING.

I'M SURE WE CAN WHIP SOMETHING UP.

AS WE LEARNED AT THE
RACETRACK, FRICTION IS A BIG DEAL.

A TYPICAL CAR SPENDS 33% OF ITS ENERGY

OVERCOMING THE FRICTION

BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE PAVEMENT.

SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO
MAKE A FRICTIONLESS VEHICLE,

A HOVERCRAFT, FOR AROUND 100 BUCKS,

USING A LEAFBLOWER, PLYWOOD

AND A FEW OTHER EVERYDAY OBJECTS.

CAN WE PULL IT OFF?

NOW WE JUST NEED A SMOOTH
SURFACE TO TRY IT OUT,

LIKE THE ONE HERE AT
THIS LOCAL GO-KART TRACK.

Householder: UH-OH.
LOOKS LIKE KEVIN ATE IT.

YEP, IT'S SMOOTH ENOUGH.

NOW IT'S TIME TO BUST OUT THE HOVERCRAFTS.

I HAVE GRACIOUSLY VOLUNTEERED
NICK TO BE OUR GUINEA PIG.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME I
GET TO BE A TEST PILOT,

SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

♪♪

-ARE YOU READY TO GO? -HE'S READY TO GO.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. YOU READY?

3... [ LAUGHS ] 3... 2... 1.

[ AIR HISSING ]

WOW!

-ALL RIGHT. -WHOO.

[ CROWD CHEERS ]

Delaney: WELL, THAT WAS A SUCCESS.

Man: IT WAS. IT WORKED REALLY WELL.

WE'LL SAY IT, YEAH. WHEW!

HOW DO YOU FEEL, MAN?

GOOD. THAT WAS AWESOME.

Delaney: SO, HOW DOES THE HOVERCRAFT WORK?

THE LEAFBLOWER BLOWS AIR

UNDERNEATH THE CRAFT INTO A VINYL SKIRT.

THIS FILLS UP AND CREATES A CUSHION OF AIR.

THIS IS THE SAME PRINCIPLE

BY WHICH MILITARY AND
COMMERCIAL HOVERBOATS WORK.

THEY FLOAT BY USING A
SKIRTED CUSHION OF AIR

AND ARE OFTEN PROPELLED BY MASSIVE FANS.

BUT NICK GETS GOING BY EXPELLING CO2

FROM THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

SO, EVEN THOUGH THAT
CO2 CANISTER ISN'T VERY BIG,

IT'S ENOUGH TO PROPEL HIM.

SO, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

THIS IS A TRUE HOVERBOARD. IT
LITERALLY LEFT ME SPEECHLESS.

I WAS JUST STANDING THERE STARING,

LIKE, WITH JUST A DUMBFOUNDED LOOK.

AND IT JUST MADE MY DAY.

THAT'S A FRICTIONLESS PUCK, MAN.

YOU KNOW, AN OBJECT IN
MOTION'S GONNA STAY IN MOTION

UNTIL IT'S ACTED UPON BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE.

ONCE YOU GIVE THEM A PUSH,

IF THERE'S NO FRICTION TO SLOW THEM DOWN,

THEY'RE GONNA KEEP GOING FOR A WHILE.

Delaney: TAMPA, FLORIDA,

IS KNOWN AS THE CIGAR CAPITAL OF THE U.S.

AND IN TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS,

I WANT TO USE THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF AIR

TO SEE IF I CAN OUT-SMOKE THE SMOKERS

AT A LOCAL CIGAR SHOP.

HEY, Y'ALL. -HEY!

IS THIS A PIPE STORE?

THERE'S A GIANT PIPE ON THE ROOF.

-THIS IS IT. -GOOD TO MEET YOU, MAN.

WHAT'S UP? I'M DARREN.

PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

WE NOTICED IT'S NOT VERY CLOUDY IN HERE.

WELL, WE HAVE A GOOD
VENTILATION SYSTEM HERE.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

AND WE HAVE A WAY TO MAKE
IT REALLY CLOUDY IN HERE.

BUT IT'LL JUST LOOK LIKE
SMOKE. IT'S NOT SMOKE.

YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE SOME SCIENCE?

-YEAH, LET'S SEE HERE. -YEAH.

-ALL RIGHT. -LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO.

SOUNDS GOOD.

SO CAN WE GET THIS PLACE
SMOKIER THAN THE SMOKERS DO?

TO DO SO, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO USE

SOME ORDINARY BOILING-HOT WATER

AND SOME LIQUID NITROGEN.

AND OUR SMOKE CLOUD BLOWS
THE WATER OUT OF THIS PLACE.

WAIT, IS THAT THE PHRASE?

1... 2... 3.

Delaney: WE'RE HITTING THE STREETS,

AND WE'RE AT A LOCAL CIGAR SHOP

SHOWING THESE GUYS HOW
MUCH COOLER OUR CLOUD IS

THAN THEIR LITTLE SMOKE CLOUDS.

TO DO SO, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO USE

SOME ORDINARY BOILING-HOT WATER

AND SOME LIQUID NITROGEN.

LIQUID NITROGEN IS USED FOR
EVERYTHING FROM CRYOTHERAPY

TO TRANSPORTING MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

THAT'S BECAUSE, AS
DARREN'S FLIR CAMERA REVEALS

WITH THE BLUE COLOR HERE,

IT'S REALLY COLD... -321
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT COLD.

Delaney: ALL RIGHT, GUYS, SO WE
HAVE OUR LIQUID NITROGEN HERE,

AND WE HAVE OUR HOT WATER HERE.

THIS WAS JUST BOILING AT AROUND 212.

SO, WE'RE GONNA SMASH THESE TWO TOGETHER

AND CREATE A VASTLY DIFFERENT
TEMPERATURE SITUATION.

ARE YOU GUYS READY? 1... 2... 3.

Man: WOW.

WOW.

Delaney: WHEN LIQUID
NITROGEN COMES INTO CONTACT

WITH REALLY HOT WATER,

IT MAKES THE NITROGEN BOIL EVEN FASTER

AND ESCAPE AS A VAPOR.

BUT BECAUSE VAPORIZED NITROGEN IS SO COLD,

IT CONDENSES THE WATER INTO TINY DROPLETS,

RESULTING IN THE CLOUD.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY SMOKE,
BUT OUR CLOUD DOES THE JOB.

SO, I THINK WE COULD DO
THIS ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE.

THINK YOU'VE BEEN
INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT?

YES.

I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE A SMOKEY CLOUD

BIG ENOUGH TO COVER THIS SHOP.

FIRST, I NEED A LOT MORE LIQUID NITROGEN

AND A MUCH BIGGER BUCKET.

OUTSIDE, ANNE-LISE EMIG,
OUR CHEMISTRY ASSISTANT,

AND THE REST OF THE TEAM
ARE PREPPING GIANT PLASTIC TUBS

AND OVER 50 GALLONS OF LIQUID NITROGEN.

I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THIS ONE.

[ BANG ] OH.

[ BANG ]

-WHOA. -THERE GOES THAT ONE.

-OH, MY GOD. -WATCH OUT.

IT'S LEAKING. WATCH YOUR FEET.

WELL, THAT DIDN'T WORK.

IT'S SO HOT OUTSIDE

THAT THE STARTING TEMPERATURE OF OUR TUB

WAS MUCH GREATER THAN OUR LIQUID NITROGEN,

AND THE PLASTIC CONSTRICTED
VERY QUICKLY AND CRACKED.

BUT I HAVE AN IDEA FOR OUR SECOND TRY.

IT'S NEAT HOW IT BROKE. YEAH.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE PUZZLE.

Delaney: FOR OUR NEXT ATTEMPT,

WE'RE USING MORE DURABLE METAL TRASHCANS

AND PRECHILLING THEM TO DECREASE
THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL

WITH THE LIQUID NITROGEN.

ANNE-LISE, ARE YOU
READY? YEAH, LET'S DO THIS.

-ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT. -COOL.

OKAY, READY, ANNE-LISE?

YEP. GOT THIS.

EVERYBODY READY?

-READY. -READY.

ALL RIGHT. 1... 2... 3.

-WHOA! -WHOO!

THAT FEELS GOOD.

-YEAH, IT DOES. -BOY!

WHEN ALL OF THAT LIQUID
NITROGEN AND ALL OF THAT WATER

COME INTO CONTACT WITH
THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR

ABOVE THE TRASHCAN,

THAT'S WHAT CREATES
THAT GIANT CLOUD OF VAPOR.

THE SPEED OF THAT REACTION

IS WHAT MAKES THIS LOOK SO OTHERWORLDLY.

-WHOO! -GOOD.

-YEAH, THAT WAS GOOD. -PRETTY GOOD.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

I HOPE THERE ARE NO GIANT MONSTERS

THAT APPEAR AFTER THIS CLEARS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Delaney: I'M NOT STICKING
AROUND TO FIND OUT.

THESE GUYS ARE ON THEIR OWN.