Mythbusters party - ideas needed!

[KrisM]

DS1's birthday party for his friends is a Mythbusters party. We're working on ideas that we can do with his friends without making their parents too worried :).

For sure we are doing the Mentos in Coke and Wintergreen LifeSavers.

Anyone do a party like this and have some fun ideas?

There will be boys, all 8 years old, at the party.

[caheinz]

At the Mythbusters exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, they had some things that would be easy to replicate. The "lands butter side up" theory was tested -- with toy bread and snap-and-loop butter. If the weather's warm enough, you might be able to set up the test of whether it's better to run or walk in the rain (which gets wetter).

There was also a place where you could try to throw playing cards and get them stuck (I think it was into cork).

A Rube Goldberg challenge might be fun =)

[MichelleRC]

Get this book!

The Mystbusters Science Fair book:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0545237459/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=10496319465&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=19265083061663465736&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_3hqhi5rdg2_e

Our school's science fair this year was Mythbusters themed, and we are obsessed with the show here.

Something else that would be fun is to have teams make things out of duct tape. (There was a recent episode where the guys were "stranded" on a desert island with only duct tape).

[jawilli4]

There are Mythbusters kits at our AC Moore. If you have one in your area you could check them out.

Also, this book looks great: Boom! Splat! Kablooey!: Safe Science That's a Real Blast. It even comes with the geyser tube you need for the Mentos fountain.

[vonfirmath]

BTW try the menthos thing before the party.
My sister is having troubles getting an impressive response.

[lizzywednesday]

....
Something else that would be fun is to have teams make things out of duct tape. (There was a recent episode where the guys were "stranded" on a desert island with only duct tape).

That was the season premiere.

You might also want to have berets and red moustaches as prizes for any games, a la Jamie Hyneman.

Also, if you do Twitter, all the castmembers have accounts. Adam, Grant, Tori and Kari are more active and responsive to fans than Jamie is; I'm sure they'd love to hear about your party!

[lizzywednesday]

BTW try the menthos thing before the party.
My sister is having troubles getting an impressive response.

Apparently diet cola works better than regular. I saw the show. It's weird. Diet cola had a higher tower than regular, IIRC.

But I definitely agree to do a trial run.

[ccather]

Ohmigosh! That's a GREAT theme for a party! I have a Mythbusters fan here too! I know what we're doing for his next birthday party! Love the build it outta duct tape idea!

[KrisM]

His birthday was yesterday and we were busy with that and the family party. Sorry, I disappeared!

Anyhow, thanks for the responses. So far, we have:
Does a Mentos cause diet Coke to explode?
Does buttered toast always fall buttered side down?
Will a marshmallow explode in the microwave?
Will a 9-volt battery zap your tongue?
Can a piece of paper be folded more than 7 times?
Can a bridge of duct tape hold a grown man?
Can a blind person naviagate an obstacle course?
Do you get more wet running or walking through a sprinkler?


For the toast - I'll make real toast before and have it ready. I'm going to let the kids decide how to set up the experiement and bring out a white board for them to use. They can figure out how to make it work, take the data, etc.

DH will likely do the battery one, as it's his idea :).

I need to figure out how to anchor a duct tape bridge. Maybe spindles on our deck can be used. I think they'll work in groups of 2 to see what they can do. Or maybe all 4 together is better. We'll add weights first and then DH can get on too.

The blind person idea is from 'can a blind man drive a car' on the show. We'll blindfold a child and give verbal directions around the back yard obstacle course.

We have safetly glasses for the kids and DS wants to give them all a roll of duct tape :). I need to find a beret for DH to wear for sure! If I can get them for the kids, I will. We have fake mustaches, so are set there. Great idea!

[ellies mom]

I love the roll of duct tape as a party favor idea. That's brilliant! I also like the mustache idea too. We threw them into the favor bags for DD2's lalaloopsy party. Totally unrelated but hey, mustaches are fun.