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Written by Antigone 68104
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Saturday, 24 January 2009 |
onfederate Steam Gun
Episode #93
OAD: December 5, 2007
Steam Machine Gun
Myth: Steam Machine Gun
The Confederacy suffered a shortage of gunpowder during the American Civil War, so one inventor developed a steam-powered machine gun.
The Expert:
John Lamb has researched this gun, and provides the original plans
Memorable/Quotable Moments:
Jamie and Adam’s “drill sergeant/soldier” routine throughout this myth.
The “translation” of Adam’s faux-French oration.
The Action/Results:
Adam first confirms with American Civil War researcher John Lamb that this weapon did exist. It dropped bullets into a curved barrel, which spun at 2000 RPM. The bullets would be flung out of the barrel in much the same way a sling stone leaves a sling. However, there are conflicting stories about how effective the steam gun was. The guys decide to test a “best case” scenario for this myth. Their target is 300-yard (just over 274 meter) range, firing 400 bullets per minute, and firing with lethal force.
Adam brings the plans back to M5, and he and Jamie hold a brainstorming session and split up the build. Jamie machines the barrel, and once he gets Adam to quit playing with it mounts it into a heavy frame. Jamie then recycles the impeller from an air impact wrench into a motor to drive the gun. Adam cuts and welds a safety collar out of quarter-inch steel, to ensure that the bullets can only go forward. He also builds a clockwork loading mechanism that will feed one round at a time into the barrel. Finally, two hot water heaters are hooked up to provide steam to the motor.
The proof of concept test at the shop gets a bit scary, as a strange hum fills the air as steam pressure rises. However, releasing some of the steam settles the machine down. A single bullet is loaded and fired. The timing is off, and the bullet dents the safety collar instead of hitting their target.
For safety reasons, testing moves to Alameda. Jamie and Adam are still having trouble with timing on the bullet feed. Finally Adam suggests just loading multiple rounds, and that seems to do the trick. Five rounds are loaded, and five rounds slam into foamcore targets 20 feet (6 meters) away in approximately one second. This is close enough to their 400 bullets/minute target to pass.
Lethality tests are next. Adam sets up a ballistics gel bust, and for a control fires a replica Civil War black powder rifle at point-blank range. His bullet goes all the way through bust and plywood backing. Next up, three rounds from the steam machine gun at the same distance. They don’t penetrate as deeply, but both Jamie and Adam agree this would be a lethal hit. For the second lethality test, it’s a dead pig at 20 yards (just over 18 meters). While the pig is hit, the bullets don’t penetrate its skin. As Adam comments, “you don't want to just dent the enemy”. At any reasonable range, the steam machine gun fails the lethality test.
Finally, the guys test whether the gun could get the range claimed for it. To get the best result possible, the gun is raised to a 20 degree angle. Adam calculates that this should let them reach 500 yards (457 meters). Twelve rounds are loaded into the gun, and the machine is started. Unfortunately, this is too much for the machine to handle. Jamie and Adam have to go for the emergency shutoff ... but at least one round made it out the barrel before the gun died. That bullet is found 700 yards (640 meters) downrange, not only further than Adam had predicted but over twice the original specification. The gun easily passes the range test.
For the final verdict, the guys agree that while the steam machine gun works as a machine, it’s not reliable or lethal enough to be an effective weapon of war. The myth of the Confederate steam machine gun is Busted.
Myth: Beat The Lie Detector
Is it possible for a guilty person to “pass” a polygraph test?
The Experts:
Dr Michael Martin gives the team their polygraph test.
Dr Frank Kozel explains the FMRI technique and performs the tests.
Memorable/Quotable Moments:
(filmed through the two-way mirror in the test chamber)
Tory: Do you ever get the feeling people are watching us work?
Grant: All the time.
Grant’s reaction to beating the FMRI.
The Action/Results:
Tory and Grant head to the South San Francisco PD for a quick course in polygraph testing. For a valid test, they will need to be in a distraction-free environment for the 2 hour exam ... and they’ll have to commit some crime. Polygraphs work by measuring reaction to stress. Simply asking questions won’t provide that stress, there has to be some reward/punishment involved.
Back at M7, the trio quickly builds a test chamber. Adam sets up a fake crime and gives the build team their instructions. Tory and Grant each sneak into Jamie’s office, find a concealed wallet, and take $50 out of it. Kari is the control, and doesn’t take any money.
While Dr Martin sets up in the test chamber, Adam gathers the “suspects”. At this point, there’s no reward/punishment – the “crime” was fake, there’s no consequences to it. So, Adam announces that if they took the money but pass the polygraph test, they will fly first class on their next job-related trip. If they are correctly found guilty, they will have to wash, wax, and polish the cars of everyone on the crew.
Properly motivated, testing begins. Tory’s plan to beat the machine is pain. He conceals a pushpin in his pants, and will jab his leg when answering truthfully. According to myth, this added stress will mask his physical reactions from lying. Dr Martin (and the polygraph) easily detect the slight movement required, so Tory has to fall back on Plan B: bite his tongue when telling the truth. Grant’s plan is mental. He will think stressful thoughts of being caught when answering truthfully, and think of puppies and scantily-clad ladies when lying. Kari will simply answer all questions honestly. Her role in this test is to see if normal stress from prolonged questioning will make the machine and Dr Martin think she’s guilty. Once all three tests are complete, Dr Martin calls the build team together for their results. All three tests were conclusive, and proved that Kari did not take the cash but Tory and Grant did.
Once the cars are clean, the trio decides to investigate some cutting edge research into lie detection using a Functional MRI (FMRI). According to the researchers working on this, lying causes increased brain activity, and the FMRI can let them watch for that activity. Accuracy of this test is 90%, not quite as good yet as a regular polygraph, but it’s worth looking at.
The team flies to the Medical University of South Carolina, where Dr Kozel explains how the test will go. Each of the team will “steal” one item from a drawer, either a ring or a watch. Then, they will be questioned under an FMRI scan about which item they took. Any team member who tricks the machine will be given $1000. Any team member who fails to trick the machine will be taking a cross-country bus ride back to San Francisco instead of flying.
Both Kari and Tory choose to steal the ring. Both of them also choose the same technique to beat the machine – they will think happy thoughts when lying and scary/stressful thoughts when truthful. Grant chooses to steal the watch, and tries a different technique. Since the FMRI detects the increased blood flow associated with brain activity, he decides to induce a fear state, thus keeping his brain activity constantly high.
After the scans, Dr Kozel reports that according to the FMRI scan, all three of them stole the ring. Grant is delighted, Tory and Kari ... let’s just say they aren’t. And they’re even less delighted when Grant drops them off at the bus station.
Back in San Francisco, the team gathers for the verdict. Beating the standard polygraph is ruled Plausible – while neither Grant nor Tory could beat it, they aren’t prepared to say no one could. There is no verdict given for the FMRI.
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Episode Descriptions 
