Myth Files
Mythbusters » Myth Files » Movies/TV »

MYTH: IS IT POSSIBLE TO CLIMB AN AIR DUCT WITH MAGNETS?

Finding: BUSTED

Explanation:Taking a cue from the Dean Cain film Firetrap, in which the lead character stealthily climbs an air duct with magnets, the MythBusters tested whether a silent, slick building entry would be possible in the real world. Amateur cat burglar Jamie Hyneman got his hands on super-powerful magnets capable of supporting his body weight and used them to fashion a couple of magnetic hand grips to help him stick to a metallic air duct mock-up.

Strapping the magnetic mitts on each hand, Jamie was able to pull himself up the duct. However, since the magnets were so strongly attracted to the steel sheeting, the banging sound the hand grips made as they met forcefully with the metal would have undoubtedly tipped off any security guard listening out for intruders.

Unless a robber using the approach plans to break into an abandoned building, he'll end up just like this myth: busted.

As seen in "MythBusters: Crimes and Myth-Demeanors."

Next Myth: Is it possible to beat a thermal camera? »