Mythbusters science of cannon balls

[Double D]

I believe this is the one where the cannon ball leaves the range. 

Comes in a few minutes on Discovery channel.  Now

[Double D]

Yep, this is the one. It started with an apology!

[Artilleryman]

I got the impression that they figured out what went wrong, but they didn't share that information with the audience.   I suspect that they may have staked the carriage to prevent recoil and that elevated the shot.  Couple that with a backstop that probably wasn't steep enough and the shot went over.

[Tod0987]

They talk about the shot here. http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/cannonball-chemistry-aftershow.htm
 
 

[Artilleryman]

Unless they are holding something back, It would appear that they don't know why it went over.

[subdjoe]

From what the episode shows, it looks like Tory just had it aimed high to start with.  I thought, "Oh, lord, he isn't gonna fire at that angle, is he?" when I saw how he had the gun laid. 

[Artilleryman]

One view shows it aimed high, and another shows it aimed much lower. 

[Double D]

Here is a link to the after the show show, The shot goes high, right over the top of the barrels.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/cannonball-chemistry-aftershow.htm

[Artilleryman]

I watched this once before.  I slowed it down by clicking pause.  The shot went high and as I stated before the backstop/berm "mountain" does not have a steep enough angle on it.  The angle of the berm serves as a launching ramp especially when the shot is already on the rise. 

[Double D]

When they say they don't know what went wrong, I actually truly believe them...and that is the whole problem.

[Artilleryman]

They seemed surprised that the ball went a 1/4 mile and did the damage it did.  I guess we should have them out to Grayling to see just how powerful these guns are.

[GGaskill]

I guess we should have them out to Grayling to see just how powerful these guns are.

That is a good idea.  Send them an invitation.

[Cannoneer]

Here is a link to the after the show show, The shot goes high, right over the top of the barrels.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/cannonball-chemistry-aftershow.htm

After watching this clip I can see that these three from the MB crew still show signs of anxiety over the incident, and damn well they should.

[Joey V.]

I can't find the original link I had to the incident but it said they simply shot over the hill. I know as a new cannoneer I had a tendency to shot real high at first too. Lucky for me my range is impossible for my cannon to outshoot. One account I heard said the ball graced off the water barrel and over the hill it went. I could see that happening too.

[KABAR2]

What it boils down to is BE SURE OF YOUR BACK STOP!!!!!! anything less and people's homes get hit with cannon balls.

[bluelake]

I guess we should have them out to Grayling to see just how powerful these guns are.

That is a good idea.  Send them an invitation.

I once helped them out with an episode ("Hwacha" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeQTpmaEkMY ) and communicated back and forth with one of the producers.  If you need the contact info, feel free to contact me.

[Artilleryman]

Thanks for the offer.  I will talk to the event sponsors and see if they are interested in extending an invite.

[Double D]

I guess we should have them out to Grayling to see just how powerful these guns are.

That is a good idea.  Send them an invitation.

I once helped them out with an episode ("Hwacha" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeQTpmaEkMY ) and communicated back and forth with one of the producers.  If you need the contact info, feel free to contact me.

That hwacha was one of the coolest devices they ever shot.

[Machine Tom]

In watching the video, it appears at about the .31-33 sec point the ball coming out of the flame, very high, relative to the point of the barrel. Later in the view from the target, a blur on the left side (as viewed) likely is the ball, well off target line.
 
Just a thought.