Bullet Bump | [s2e17]

In the small-scale testing, they fired various calibers at a stationary target. While the bullets caused significant damage, the was negligible. To scale up, they used a "dead weight" rig representing a human body. Even when hit by high-velocity rounds and a 12-gauge shotgun, the target didn't "fly" backward as seen in films; it simply fell over or absorbed the energy through deformation. The conclusion was a definitive Busted : the laws of physics (specifically Newton’s Third Law) dictate that if a bullet had enough force to throw a target backward, the recoil would similarly throw the shooter backward. The Secondary Myth: Confetti Cannon

The central investigation explores a trope common in action cinema: can a person be physically knocked backward by the impact of a bullet? To test this, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman utilized their resident proxy for human physiology, "Buster." [S2E17] Bullet Bump

The build team (Tory, Kari, and Grant) tested various "shrapnel" loads. They discovered that while paper confetti is harmless, the high-pressure CO2 used to launch it can be lethal at extremely close range due to the sheer force of the gas expansion. Furthermore, if the cannon is "salted" with heavier objects or if the paper becomes a solid plug, it essentially becomes a makeshift pipe bomb. Scientific Significance In the small-scale testing, they fired various calibers

The episode "" (Season 2, Episode 17) of MythBusters is a classic example of how the show tackles "movie physics" with rigorous, small-scale-to-large-scale experimentation. The episode primary focuses on two main myths: the titular Bullet Bump and the Confetti Cannon . The Core Myth: The Bullet Bump Even when hit by high-velocity rounds and a

The "B-story" of the episode involved a more whimsical but dangerous urban legend: can a professional confetti cannon accidentally kill someone if it's packed too tightly or contains the wrong materials?

"Bullet Bump" is often cited by fans as one of the best demonstrations of . It stripped away the cinematic glamour of gunfights to show that bullets are designed to penetrate , not to push . The episode remains a staple for physics teachers because it so clearly illustrates why Hollywood's depiction of kinetic impact is almost always exaggerated for dramatic effect.