Is It Really Impossible To Pull Apart Two Interleaved Phone Books? | MythBusters

[00:00:07]What's this new suggestion?

[00:00:09]>> Yeah, these guys have really outdone themselves, man. They have filmed an entire Mythbusters segment themselves in order to give us a story idea.

[00:00:17]>> What's the myth?

[00:00:18]>> Well, they're claiming that if you take two phone books and interle their pages one by one by one, that those two phone books absolutely cannot be separated.

[00:00:27]>> That's right down our alley. I think we should take that on.

[00:00:30]>> I totally agree.

[00:00:34]>> Yep. Not only did our intrepid Dutch duo Tim and Steve create this crazy spoof, they put forward the intriguing sounding myth that two phone books with their pages interled are impossible to rent us under.

[00:00:54]But could the alternating pages of a phone book that haven't been glued, taped, or bound really stick together under any circumstances?

[00:01:03]>> It's pretty clear where we have to start.

[00:01:05]>> I agree. You know, in their testing, the clamp with which they held their phone books eventually failed and they stopped testing there.

[00:01:12]>> Well, that's a problem we'll have to solve then.

[00:01:14]>> I agree. But first, let's get inter leaving.

[00:01:20]In true Mythbuster style, the phone book fable is going to get ramped, ripped, and revved up until the boys get answers. But before the envelope pushing begins, let's take you back to the beginning.

[00:01:37]>> Very first thing we have to do is interlace these things like this.

[00:01:43]Uh, I think it's going to be a little harder than that.

[00:01:46]>> Long and tedious task ahead. Cue our editor's favorite solution, the time lapse. You ready to interle some of these phone books?

[00:01:54]>> Yep.

[00:01:55]>> All right.

[00:01:56]With the two phone books secured, Adam and Jamie, >> we've just passed 500 pages total.

[00:02:01]>> We're cruising. Simply take turns flipping pages, pausing only when they get to M for Mafia.

[00:02:08]>> Does this remind you when you used to count money for the mob?

[00:02:11]>> I was a hitman. I wasn't a money counter.

[00:02:16]>> Almost there. And with all 800 pages of each book interled, the guys begin to get a grip on the science of this myth.

[00:02:25]>> I can't believe there's nothing holding those two things together but friction.

[00:02:28]>> It's really quite amazing. I mean, when you tug on these, it's like they're glued together, but they're not. It can only be the friction of each page where it contacts the next one. And times a thousand or so, it adds up to a lot.

[00:02:43]>> What I've got here is a lesson in friction. While this might look like two 800page phone books, Jamie and I have interled them. Or for you magic afficionadas, we've done a pharaoh shuffle.

[00:02:56]And uh apparently almost nothing will rent these two things aunder. And we're going to see if that's true. In an attempt to handle the truth, Adam and Jamie are focusing on friction.

[00:03:10]Friction can be defined as the force resisting the relative motion of two surfaces, for example, the pages of a phone book.

[00:03:19]Static friction is the force keeping two stationary objects from moving. And kinetic friction occurs when two objects that are already moving rub up against each other. That's the theory on what's holding the books together. To help pull them apart, the guys rig two plywood handles along the book's spines.

[00:03:40]But neither these nor the tape you can see will interfere with the experiment.

[00:03:44]>> All right. You want to do some tugof-war?

[00:03:46]>> Okay.

[00:03:48]>> Well, no. Jamie and I are about to have a tugof-war. And we are going to try and pull the phone book apart, but of course, I think we're also going to try and pull each other across the shop.

[00:03:58]I think it's actually probably a pretty even game. You weigh about the same.

[00:04:02]Jamie may be a little bit stronger than me, but I fight dirty. It's been a while since Adam, check out my guns and Jamie have gone headto head, >> but it's a grand old Mythbusters tradition that underhand tactics. I've still got a couple of tricks up my sleeve.

[00:04:24]>> Bending and then breaking the rules are all part of the fun until someone loses.

[00:04:35]But there'll be no cheating here. It's a straight tugofwar.

[00:04:40]A matching of muscle. Mono emano.

[00:04:44]>> I'm going to run out of room here real quick. So >> maybe you won't run out of room so quick.

[00:04:49]>> Of course. Aside from pride and sensitive egos, what's really on the line is the myth. Will the phone book pages stand up to our macho myth?

[00:04:58]>> You ready?

[00:04:59]>> Here we go.

[00:05:01]First across the line loses.

[00:05:07]Oh.

[00:05:09]>> Oh, I believe I'm winning.

[00:05:11]>> Equally matched in weight, traction was the ultimate decider in this test. And with no time to substitute a hydraulically powered robot, Jamie has to take his medicine.

[00:05:23]But more importantly, despite being fueled by the red hot fires of competition.

[00:05:28]>> Good job. The phone books still together though.

[00:05:31]>> Adam and Jamie failed to make an impression on the phone books.

[00:05:35]>> Although I may have had better traction on my shoes than Jamie. I'd say it's Adam and Jamie zero phone book one. This puppy didn't creek, didn't move, didn't butt. We're going to need some more help. Before the help arrives, there's time for a little gloating. Dude, this is like a professional wrestling trophy belt, right? I'm going to wear this around like check it out. Hinman, who's the boss now?

[00:06:05]>> Adam and Jamie are musling up to test the tall tale of interlaced phone books that are impossible to pull apart.

[00:06:13]>> This experiment is one of those things that is totally counterintuitive because, you know, it's just a couple of phone books interled together. There's no glue, there's no tape, there's no screws. They're just sitting there, those phone book pages, and we should be able to pull them apart quite easily.

[00:06:30]But somehow I don't think so. If you don't believe Jamie, here's a sentence you don't often hear on Mythbusters.

[00:06:37]This is one you can try at home.

[00:06:41]And while you're at it, here's something else you can try at home with phone books. The tall tale that it takes a strong man to tear a phone book in half.

[00:06:50]As long as we've got all these phone books around, I thought this is an opportunity to learn how to rip a phone book. And Adam's tricky technique is this. Bend a book into a V, separating the pages. And that means you tear one page at a time and not all 800. Simple.

[00:07:10]This is like a sickness. It's like an addiction. I got to rip up another one.

[00:07:15]Oh yeah. But the problem with addictive highs are the inevitable subsequent lows.

[00:07:20]>> I know I'm a mythbuster, but I'm a little sad to find out that the trick is so easy.

[00:07:26]And Adam knows the only way to cheer himself up is to beat. Or could that be cheat? Jamie in a contest. Jamie, come here.

[00:07:35]Got a challenge for you. Ready?

[00:07:37]>> Okay.

[00:07:42]>> Can you do that?

[00:07:43]>> I don't know. Let's see.

[00:07:46]I've never done this before.

[00:07:48]>> After seeing Jamie struggle for a few minutes, Adam adds the ultimate insult by offering to help.

[00:07:54]>> Here, I'll make it easy for you.

[00:07:55]>> Okay, >> start from the other side.

[00:07:58]Take it. Bend it all the way like this.

[00:08:01]And you're kind of spreading out all the pages and tearing them one at a time.

[00:08:04]That's the trick. And it should tear open.

[00:08:07]>> Come on. You're stronger than me. What?

[00:08:09]You going to let me show you up on television?

[00:08:11]>> You want to get whacked in the head with a phone book?

[00:08:17]It's a fun trick to know. I think we should practice.

[00:08:21]>> You go right ahead.

[00:08:22]>> Okay.

[00:08:23]>> After a trip to the recycling bin, boys, it's back to work. Which means it's time to dial in on some hard data. We weren't able to pull the phone books apart. That tells us something, but not specifically how strong they are. So, we're going to test them with this scale.

[00:08:38]>> Yep. This scale will measure exactly how much tug ready. the phone books are being subjected to.

[00:08:48]>> All right, how much what do we get to?

[00:08:50]>> Not bad. 3 >> 320 lb. 320 lb sounds significant, but what we need is a little perspective.

[00:08:59]>> To put that amount of force in perspective, it's the weight of your average linebacker.

[00:09:04]>> Impressive, but what's next?

[00:09:06]>> Let's get everyone in the building on this. Okay.

[00:09:08]>> Yep. It's time to number up. Ready to fight the Spartans >> with nine muscled Mythbusters and Adam split into two teams of five.

[00:09:19]>> One, two, three.

[00:09:20]>> Like that.

[00:09:22]>> We're about to see exactly what these phone books are made of.

[00:09:27]>> Lions.

[00:09:29]Come on, they're beating us. You panties. Move.

[00:09:37]>> Okay.

[00:09:38]>> So far, it's phone books one. Everybody else zero. Five people on five people.

[00:09:43]Tugofwar generating almost 2100 lb of force, the weight of a small car, and the phone books are steadfastly refusing to be separated. Which leaves one final manpower option. All 10 Mythbusters in one mighty team. 3 hours >> push lunch.

[00:10:04]>> All right, what do we get?

[00:10:06]We got up to 4,000 lb. You guys called it up. You called up the beast and it didn't do anything.

[00:10:14]>> Come on, guys. Do I have to keep asking?

[00:10:16]4,000 lb is about the weight of a fulls size pickup truck. And still, we weren't able to separate the phone books.

[00:10:24]>> We gave everything to this phone book.

[00:10:26]It looked right back at our face and said, Is that all you've got?

[00:10:31]>> We will need to bring some more power.

[00:10:33]>> But before the bringing of more power, >> what's up, man?

[00:10:37]>> In an attempt to unstick this sticky problem, I have something fun for you guys to try. Adam brings more Mythbusters. The goal is for you guys to separate these without ripping them, tearing them, just by pulling. You've got 1 half hour and any tool or material you want to use in the shop.

[00:10:53]>> This is going to be easy. 1 2 3 Ow!

[00:10:58]I need a broken nail.

[00:10:59]>> Uh, maybe not easy, but it is intriguing.

[00:11:02]>> This is one of those really, really cool myths that anybody can try because everybody's got a phone book.

[00:11:10]>> Magic.

[00:11:12]Imagining how the phone books go together. It's almost like one of those Chinese finger locks where the harder you pull, the tighter the lock is on your fingers.

[00:11:24]With time ticking, they finally get serious and get a grip.

[00:11:28]>> Oh, it's starting to hurt.

[00:11:29]>> But like Adam and Jamie, they realize pulling against each other isn't working.

[00:11:34]>> So, it can handle at least 250 lbs.

[00:11:37]>> So, Tori decides to tempt fate again.

[00:11:41]>> Remember last time I did this?

[00:11:42]>> I do. That's why I'm wincing.

[00:11:45]>> And in case you don't remember, here's that golden moment when Tori got blown away.

[00:11:53]But this time, Tori escapes headache free, and he and Carrie put their heads together.

[00:11:58]>> All right, Carrie, go ahead and drive away.

[00:12:00]>> And the shop's heavy machinery to try and bust the myth. Oh, and uh Tori's teeth.

[00:12:06]>> This is a little game I like to call break your teeth.

[00:12:10]>> You'd have thought Tori gets paid per ambulance ride.

[00:12:14]>> Okay, here we go.

[00:12:15]>> So, it's the Humble Phone Book's biggest test yet. Will their pages resist the scissor and forklift? Or will our M7 Mythbusters bust the myth?

[00:12:28]>> Oh, broke the spine.

[00:12:30]>> It's not working.

[00:12:31]>> Yeah.

[00:12:31]>> No, it's just ripping out the spine of the book.

[00:12:34]>> And with the 30 minutes long gone, the guys are defeated, but impressed.

[00:12:39]>> I think this has a lot to do with surface area and friction. I am completely amazed at how much force we put on that book and it's still gripped on.

[00:12:48]>> We failed. Now the big question is pepperoni or sausage.

[00:13:00]>> Adam and Jamie are focusing on the phone book friction fable and the ramping up has already begun.

[00:13:09]Ah, >> 10 people, 4,000 lb of pull, and nothing. Fun books are tougher than we thought.

[00:13:17]>> Dude, this thing is a behemoth. What are we going to pull it with now?

[00:13:22]>> Rental cars.

[00:13:28]>> We said we were going to ramp it up. So, we have. We've got two sedans. They're about 140 horsepower each. We're going to see if we can rip those phone books apart.

[00:13:37]>> Yep. manpower didn't do it for him. So, it's on to uh horsepower and a whole heap of horsing around.

[00:13:45]>> I love bull insurance.

[00:13:48]>> Oh, I made the car so dirty. Couldn't find the trunk key.

[00:13:54]>> It's a simple plan using the same two books that withstood the war of tugs. I sued myself. Adam and Jamie are going to drive in opposite directions. And the only thing that could prevent them from driving off into a dusty sunset is the interleved pages of the directories.

[00:14:12]Remember, there's no glue, and the plywood clamps are simply providing a firm grip. Rig's ready. I'm ready. What do you think's going to happen?

[00:14:21]>> Well, I think the rig's going to break before the books do.

[00:14:31]This is it. I'm ready. Are you ready?

[00:14:33]>> Yeah, I'm ready. Let's do it.

[00:14:36]>> Can the drag created by the 800 pages of two phone books stop these two drag racers?

[00:14:47]>> I'm starting to spin.

[00:14:49]>> Yeah, I'm spinning, too.

[00:14:53]>> Come on, spin some more. Incredibly, with the force gauge peaking at 4800 lb, the phone books, unlike the car's tires, >> that's fun.

[00:15:05]>> Hold firm. Still intact.

[00:15:07]>> I smell rubber burning, but I don't see no broken rig or phone book.

[00:15:11]>> Well, at this point, it's phone book three. Jamie and Adam, zilch. I think the phone book's feeling pretty self-satisfied, but we're not done by a long shot.

[00:15:26]Ah, dude, I am proud of our little phone books. They withtood a lot more than I thought they would. This thing is impressive.

[00:15:33]>> It is. And, you know, I have a theory. I think there's more going on here than just friction of page on page. I think it has to do with the pages being stacked and the weight that they put on each other, as well as there may be some sort of a finger puzzle thing where the harder you pull, the more it grabs.

[00:15:51]Well, it's clear if we're going to get these things separated, we're going to need bigger vehicles and a lot more traction.

[00:15:57]>> Well, you know what? I've got both.

[00:16:00]>> No, really.

[00:16:01]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:16:02]>> Awesome.

[00:16:03]Yep. Jamie has contacted the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation and head honcho Jacques Littlefield.

[00:16:11]>> Wow. Who can't wait to show off the largest private collection of armored fighting vehicles in the world. the earliest tank I have, which is a World War I tank built by the US. It was actually the first tank the US built.

[00:16:25]>> And for the next happy hour, this is amazing.

[00:16:27]>> Well, let me show you some other stuff.

[00:16:29]>> As Adam and Jamie get the full guided tour.

[00:16:32]>> That's kind of cute. It's It's almost cuddly.

[00:16:36]>> You could say they resemble two toddlers let loose in a toy factory.

[00:16:42]>> Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt.

[00:16:45]>> Yeah, I know. Are you jealous?

[00:16:48]I'm not going to touch that.

[00:16:51]There we go. Now I'm ready.

[00:16:54]There's a lot of munitions down here.

[00:16:57]With playtime reluctantly over, Jacques introduces us to two potential phone book rippers, an armored personnel carrier, >> and an M551 Sheridan.

[00:17:10]>> This is the famous Death Stalker.

[00:17:15]And with the rides ready, it's time to raise the curtain on the Mythbuster Military Ballet.

[00:17:45]This is awesome. This is like some sort of a side show with me.

[00:17:57]>> Yep, that's the tanks. So, what about the >> You got a phone book for me >> right here.

[00:18:05]The toughest thing about ramping this test up is how to hold on to the books.

[00:18:10]This is an opportunity to uh not mess around.

[00:18:14]>> Nice.

[00:18:14]>> If these clamps give way, I'll eat my beret.

[00:18:18]>> That's ready. Aesthetically, it matches the tanks. Uh yeah, military steel. It's the new black.

[00:18:25]>> So, we're going from a car and some wood clamps to a tank.

[00:18:34]That's something a little heavier.

[00:18:37]>> And with phone books held snugly in their brand new bindings.

[00:18:41]>> What are you, the ghost of Christmas futures?

[00:18:43]>> The gang chain the metal monsters together.

[00:18:48]>> There you go.

[00:18:49]>> And remember, their interleaf pages are the only things holding the two books together.

[00:18:54]>> I don't know about you, but I think we're ready to start stretching.

[00:19:01]Welcome back. Here's where we stand so far. Jamie and I got word that interle the pages of two folks yielded something incredibly strong. Does this remind you of when you used to count money for the mob?

[00:19:10]>> I was a hit man. I wasn't a money counter.

[00:19:13]>> So, we did it and we tugged on them. We couldn't separate them.

[00:19:18]>> We got 10 friends together. They couldn't separate them.

[00:19:22]>> We got two cars and still those phone books wouldn't be separated.

[00:19:29]But we're not going to leave it there.

[00:19:31]We went out had found a couple of tanks.

[00:19:33]Behind me is 30 tons of military steel, 650 horsepower. Are they going to separate the phone mugs at this point? I have no idea. But I do know that something is going to happen.

[00:19:47]So, it's the 14tonon 300 horsepower M113 A1 fire support vehicle and the M551 Sheridan, also known as the Death Stalker, which packs a healthy 350 horsepower and weighs in at 15 tons versus two phone books.

[00:20:10]>> I was trying to make a phone call.

[00:20:12]That's all I wanted to do.

[00:20:17]The question is, can the pages take the pressure? If this doesn't separate the phone books, I'd call them effectively unseparable.

[00:20:25]>> I think so.

[00:20:26]>> All right, let's see what happens.

[00:20:33]Ah, I love the smell of diesel in the morning.

[00:20:36]>> Okay, go ahead and pull slack.

[00:20:39]>> With the lightest of touches on the throttle, the tanks ease delicately apart.

[00:20:45]The careful positioning not reflected by the force gauge needle.

[00:20:49]>> That's 1,000 lb of force so far.

[00:20:52]>> With the slack taken up, Jamie signals the start.

[00:20:56]30 tons of mighty military machines slowly begin to move in opposite directions, and the force gauge climbs quickly. But the courageous phone books, you couldn't call them yella, hang on for all their work. A there >> separated. It worked.

[00:21:15]>> But the Yankin tanks finally win the tugofwar.

[00:21:20]>> Darn.

[00:21:21]>> You wanted to see some metal breaking.

[00:21:23]>> Yeah. Well, I wanted to see these things spin, you know, burn rubber.

[00:21:29]>> No. Unlike the rental cars, these puppies had traction and power to spare.

[00:21:35]And talking of power, >> let me see how many pounds it took.

[00:21:39]>> 8,000 lb of force is what it took.

[00:21:46]Well, our military steel was up to the task of separating the phone books. And lest you think that 8,000 lb of force is not a lot, let me put it in perspective.

[00:21:57]We could hang both of those rental cars from those interled phone books and it wouldn't have broken them. That's how much force we're talking about. It's pretty amazing. So, it turns out that interlaced phone books are not in fact indestructible. You just have to have a couple of tanks hanging around to do it.

[00:22:25]I still just wanted to make a phone call.