In the center of this photo is Buster, star of the show Mythbusters. He is flanked by his co-stars Jamie Hyneman (left) and Adam Savage (right). Together with their build team Grant Imahara, Tory Belleci, and Kari Byron, they've been entertaining and educating our family for years. Our daughters Kiera and Alannah have done "Diet Coke + Mentos" and ""Phone Book Friction" for science fair projects at school.
Our oldest daughter Kiera was nominated by her school to be part of a brand new Math Science Preparatory program program being offered by Genesee Community College. This enrichment program offers area middle-schoolers access to higher-level math and science courses, continuing into the high school ACE STEM program. Students who complete the program have the option to earn an Associates Degree within months after graduating high school.
She was also nominated for "6th Grade Math Science Scholar of the Year," which the college was awarding to 2 students. She took an entrance exam for the program and was asked to submit an essay talking about an invention that impacted the world and her own life. Kiera did hers on crash test dummies, with an emphasis on Buster.
From the "Scholar of the Year" nominees, 21 finalists were named who then had to create PowerPoint presentations explaining how science and math played a role in their selected inventions. The finalists, families, and school representatives were invited to a breakfast where each 6th grader gave their presentation.
Once the presentations were made, Kiera was named one of the "6th Grade Math Science Scholars of the Year!" The press release from the college has more details. Way to go Kiera!
Here is the essay she submitted:
Kiera Gross
Pavilion Central School
3/29/12
Buster (and relatives)
A crash test dummy stands in place for a person while testing safety hazards in dangerous situations. They allow us to measure the impact of a force on a body and collect data through shock gauges, accelerometers, and other monitors. You could say crash test dummies have a real impact on my life.
Crash test dummies started in 1949 when jet pilots needed to test ejector seats. This dummy was taller and heavier than most men. Then another dummy was invented that was closer to a man's height, weight, and width. A woman dummy also was made that was lower than the regular female dimensions. Today, vehicles are tested by a whole family of dummies. We made dummies to measure damage and injuries resulting from collisions. With the information from the dummies, we can create safer vehicles. Seat belts, air bags, and collapsible bumpers are all the result of dummy tests. Today because we've tested a lot, we have more safety features and have saved many lives.
Buster, a crash test dummy used in the show Mythbusters, is my favorite dummy. Buster was first used to disprove the “exploding toilet“ myth. He went through several more myths before he started coming apart. The Mythbusters had to rebuild him. The Mythbusters used steel for the joints because they didn't want the legs and arms to keep falling off. They used poplar wood for the bones because poplar is very similar to human bones in strength. They used Dragonskin for the cover because it is like human skin. Grant, the techie guy, added a new 'brain' which was a whole bunch of testing equipment in a black box inside Buster's head. Mythbusters built the first reusable crash test dummy.
Buster is not usually used like a regular dummy. He has been put in falling elevators, dropped in water, shot out of a drainage pipe, used in myths with improper use of construction equipment, launched on ancient rockets, had a foot stuck in a washing machine, and put in cars that are dropped, crushed, flipped, tossed, flung, shot, and blown up. Buster's instruments tell us whether the events are survivable, survivable with injury, or deadly.
Buster and 'relatives' have affected my life. Buster has been my main explosive entertainment and has provided some learning opportunities. For example, when he was dropped in water from different heights I learned that the water's surface tension can cause 220G-forces. 100G is usually fatal. His 'relatives' have improved safety features on cars, bikes, and other things I use almost daily. For example, bike helmets are safer today because they have been tested by dummies. Crash test dummies have changed not only the world but me personally. They have taught me some things and, in the case of Buster, have made me laugh.
