MythBusters Season 3 Episode 29 Border Slingshot

In MythBusters season 3 episode 29, titled "Border Slingshot," the team takes on the challenge of testing the myth that Mexican immigrants use slingshots to launch themselves across the border into the United States. The goal of the experiment is to determine if it is possible for a person to travel the distance and height required to make it over the border.

The MythBusters team starts by building a replica of the slingshot reported to be used by immigrants. The slingshot consists of a long rubber band tied between two poles, with a small seat at the end for the person to sit on. To test the myth, they set up the slingshot in a remote location in the Arizona desert, close to the border with Mexico.

The team uses a crash test dummy to simulate a person being launched from the slingshot and flies over the border. To measure the distance and speed of the dummy, they use high-speed cameras and GPS tracking. They also set up a radar gun on the US side of the border to measure the speed of the dummy as it crosses over.

Throughout the episode, the MythBusters team encounters multiple obstacles and challenges. They find that the rubber band of the slingshot snaps several times due to the intense force required to launch the dummy. They also face difficulties launching the dummy at the correct trajectory, with the dummy going off-course multiple times. Additionally, they must work carefully to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the experiment.

Despite these obstacles, the team perseveres and achieves some surprising results. They find that the dummy can be launched at a velocity high enough to travel over the border, which confirms the plausibility of the myth. However, they also discover that it is nearly impossible for a person to travel the distance and height required to make it over the border and safely land on the US side using only a slingshot.

As always, the MythBusters team does not stop at simply testing the myth. In the second half of the episode, they explore potential alternative methods that immigrants could use to cross the border. These include using a giant catapult, a hot air balloon, and a zip line. Using a combination of scientific testing and trial and error, the team tests the effectiveness and safety of each option.

The episode concludes with the team summarizing their findings and offering their conclusions on the potential for immigrants to use unconventional methods to cross the US-Mexico border. Throughout the episode, the MythBusters team combines their scientific knowledge with a sense of humor and a willingness to try new things, making it both an entertaining and informative watch.