The Impossible Jenga Move | MythBusters Jr.

Summary

In a thrilling Jenga challenge, Elijah and Adam test the myth of an impossible move where the tower rests on a single brick. Valerie introduces a pneumatic actuator to attempt the feat. Despite initial failures with oversized blocks, they recalibrate for standard-sized bricks. The pneumatic actuator, at 120 PSI, successfully extracts the brick with an impact velocity of 75 miles per hour, proving the 'impossible' Jenga move is indeed possible.

Takeaways

• 🎲 The classic game of Jenga involves stacking blocks and removing them one-handed from the bottom to make the tower taller.
• 🏗️ There's a myth that in a late-stage game, it's impossible to remove the last brick without causing the tower to collapse.
• 🤖 Valerie proposes using a pneumatic actuator from her robotics experience to attempt the impossible move.
• 🔧 The team constructs an air-powered piston to try and remove the last brick without toppling the tower.
• 💨 The first test with the pneumatic actuator at low pressure is successful but the tower is still unstable.
• 🚫 After three failures with a large-scale Jenga tower, they realize the physics of the game are not properly scaled.
• 🔄 They return to standard-sized Jenga blocks to accurately test their mechanical solutions.
• 😅 Elijah accidentally curses on camera, showing the pressure and humor of the situation.
• 🎉 The small-scale bungee test is successful, indicating they are on the right track.
• 🚴‍♀️ Allie's 'Jenga Bike' test completely destroys the tower, but is deemed a fun and perfect failure.
• 🎉 Valerie's final test with the pneumatic actuator at 120 PSI successfully removes the last brick without collapsing the tower, proving the myth possible.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the game discussed in the script?

The objective of the game is to remove a brick from a lower level of a Jenga tower and place it on top, making the tower taller and more unstable until it eventually collapses.

What myth are the participants trying to test in the game of Jenga?

The myth being tested is whether it's possible to remove a brick from a Jenga tower resting entirely on a single brick without causing the entire structure to collapse.

What solution does Valerie propose to test the myth?

Valerie suggests using a pneumatic actuator, a fast and strong air-powered piston, to push the brick out quickly and avoid the collapse of the tower.

Why did the team initially struggle with the supersized Jenga blocks?

The team struggled with the supersized Jenga blocks because the larger size increased the weight pressing down on the bricks, which made it harder to remove them without collapsing the tower.

What adjustment did the team make after their initial failures with the supersized Jenga blocks?

After their initial failures, the team decided to switch back to using normal-sized Jenga blocks, which were more proportional and allowed for a fairer test of the myth.

What was the final result of the pneumatic actuator test on the normal-sized Jenga tower?

The pneumatic actuator successfully pushed out the 'impossible' Jenga block at 120 PSI, and the tower remained standing, proving that the move was possible.

What velocity did the pneumatic actuator achieve in removing the block?

The pneumatic actuator achieved an impact velocity of 75 miles per hour when removing the block, which minimized friction and allowed the tower to stay intact.

How did the team ensure that their solutions were effective and independently developed?

The narrator confirms that the kids came up with their mechanical solutions themselves, and they were effective in testing and achieving the desired results.

What was the emotional atmosphere like during the tests?

The emotional atmosphere was a mix of excitement and nervousness, as participants frequently expressed their anticipation and relief, especially when tests were successful.

What did the team nickname the final successful version of the Jenga game?

The team nicknamed the successful version of the game 'Samurai Jenga' due to the speed and precision with which the block was removed.