Myth BustersMyth BustersScientific MethodScientific Method

Killer WhirlpoolKiller Whirlpool

Myth BustersMyth BustersScientific MethodScientific Method

Killer WhirlpoolKiller Whirlpool

Identify the ProblemIdentify the Problem

What was the problem/question that What was the problem/question that Adam and Jamie were trying to Adam and Jamie were trying to solve?solve?

Can a whirlpool pull a large ship Can a whirlpool pull a large ship underwater?underwater?

Is the myth of the “Whirlpool of Is the myth of the “Whirlpool of Death” true?Death” true?

Can a whirlpool pull a person under?Can a whirlpool pull a person under?

Form a HypothesisForm a Hypothesis

What did Adam and Jamie theorize What did Adam and Jamie theorize would happen?would happen?

They believed it could pull a person They believed it could pull a person under.under.

Since the whirlpool could pull a Since the whirlpool could pull a person under then it could possibly person under then it could possibly pull a ship under.pull a ship under.

Create an ExperimentCreate an Experiment

How did Adam and Jamie design the How did Adam and Jamie design the experiment to be performed?experiment to be performed?

First researched the mechanics of First researched the mechanics of how whirlpools work.how whirlpools work.

Second, they worked with small scale Second, they worked with small scale models and then built their way up to models and then built their way up to larger ones. larger ones.

Last they decided on the best model Last they decided on the best model to use for the main experiment. to use for the main experiment.

Perform the ExperimentPerform the Experiment

How was the main experiment done?How was the main experiment done? Adam and Jamie built a container Adam and Jamie built a container

that creates a large whirlpool. that creates a large whirlpool. The water is drain from the bottom The water is drain from the bottom

then pump back to the top creating a then pump back to the top creating a whirlpool.whirlpool.

A small scale ship is then placed at A small scale ship is then placed at the top of the container to see if it the top of the container to see if it sinks or floats. sinks or floats.

Analyze the DataAnalyze the Data

What data was collected from the What data was collected from the experiment?experiment?

The ship sank when the experiment The ship sank when the experiment was performed.was performed.

However when the speed of the However when the speed of the whirlpool was reduced to the fastest whirlpool was reduced to the fastest natural whirlpool recorded, the ship natural whirlpool recorded, the ship DID NOTDID NOT sink. sink.

Communicate ResultsCommunicate Results

What was the final outcome of the What was the final outcome of the experiment? Was the hypothesis experiment? Was the hypothesis correct? Confirmed, Busted or correct? Confirmed, Busted or Plausible?Plausible?

A whirlpool can pull a ship under A whirlpool can pull a ship under water but has to 100 times bigger water but has to 100 times bigger than the fastest natural whirlpool than the fastest natural whirlpool recorded. (BUSTED!)recorded. (BUSTED!)

A whirlpool can pull a person A whirlpool can pull a person underwater. (PLAUSIBLE?)underwater. (PLAUSIBLE?)