0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Welcome to the genius world of... BOTH:- ..monster engineering!
0:00:04 > 0:00:06SCREAMING
0:00:06 > 0:00:11Each show, we're going to introduce you to three geniuses...
0:00:11 > 0:00:12- Wow!- Ooh!
0:00:12 > 0:00:15..whose ideas have quite literally built the world.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18'We put all their epic brilliance...'
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Yes! '..to the test...'
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Hit it, hit it!
0:00:21 > 0:00:24..when we tackle our own genius Monster Build.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Don't you dare demolish this!
0:00:27 > 0:00:28Going higher...
0:00:28 > 0:00:29Why is it swinging?!
0:00:31 > 0:00:33..faster... SCREAMING
0:00:33 > 0:00:35..and scarier.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Oh, no!
0:00:36 > 0:00:38All in the name of science.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41That is a MASSIVE piece of construction.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42What could possibly go wrong?
0:00:44 > 0:00:46THEY SCREAM
0:00:46 > 0:00:48On this show...
0:00:49 > 0:00:52..get ready for some hair-raising drops...
0:00:52 > 0:00:53THEY SCREAM
0:00:53 > 0:00:56..and some soaking slipperiness...
0:00:57 > 0:01:00..as we bravely propel ourselves...
0:01:00 > 0:01:02into the science behind the screams...
0:01:02 > 0:01:05SCREAMING ..of the world's great thrill rides.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07HE SCREAMS
0:01:07 > 0:01:08This is...
0:01:08 > 0:01:09..Absolute Genius!
0:01:45 > 0:01:48In today's show, we're going to be travelling the world,
0:01:48 > 0:01:50looking at the genius of nail-biting thrill rides.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52- All in the name of 'aving it! - Science.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Er, yeah, and 'aving it.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56We'll be looking at three geniuses
0:01:56 > 0:01:59whose work has helped exhilarate and entertain us.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01And, at the end of the show, we're going to be building
0:02:01 > 0:02:04our very own super-slide and flinging ourselves down it.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05Big scream to start?
0:02:05 > 0:02:06Ah, why not?
0:02:08 > 0:02:12THEY SCREAM
0:02:13 > 0:02:14As long as there have been hills,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17people have been throwing themselves down them for fun.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20On slides, sledges, skis
0:02:20 > 0:02:23and other things not necessarily beginning with S.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27This thirst for thrills has become a multi-billion dollar industry,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29with roller-coasters and water slides
0:02:29 > 0:02:32constantly pushing the limits of epic engineering.
0:02:34 > 0:02:35Are you ready for this?
0:02:35 > 0:02:37- What?- To meet our first genius.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41- Where is she? - Up there.- What?
0:02:41 > 0:02:42Come on.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44At 178 metres,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47this tunnel slide in London is the world's longest,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50and our genius just had to be at the top, didn't she?
0:02:52 > 0:02:54THEY PANT AND GASP
0:02:54 > 0:02:55Why did she make us come up here?
0:02:55 > 0:02:57- Well, the work of our first genius...- Yes?
0:02:57 > 0:02:59..is all about building up energy.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Energy?! I lost mine 50 steps up.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06DRUMROLL Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Emilie du Chatelet.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08CYMBAL CRASH
0:03:08 > 0:03:09Where is she?
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Whee-heeeeeeeeeeeeee!
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Bonjour, monsieur. Who knew physics could be this fun?
0:03:20 > 0:03:25In the 1700s, experts in maths and physics were almost all men.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28But one French lady said, "Non, non, non," to that
0:03:28 > 0:03:32and set about becoming one of the world's top energy scientists.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Emilie du Chatelet and her genius research
0:03:34 > 0:03:37into a thing called kinetic energy
0:03:37 > 0:03:42helped turn thrill rides from slow to who-o-o-o-a!
0:03:42 > 0:03:45So why do most rides and slides start really high off the ground?
0:03:45 > 0:03:47- I don't know.- No, neither do I.- No.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49Actually, Fran said it was something about potential energy.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- What's that?- I don't know. Oh, and kinetic energy.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53- And what's that?- I don't know.- Oh.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Oh, and she said we'll need some swimming shorts.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56- What are they?- Eh?- Huh?
0:03:58 > 0:04:01'Meet Fran, our scientist friend...'
0:04:01 > 0:04:02Go!
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'..who can explain things in a way that even WE can understand.'
0:04:06 > 0:04:08It worked, Franny!
0:04:08 > 0:04:10'She loves a good experiment.'
0:04:10 > 0:04:12- What?!- Did it!- No!
0:04:12 > 0:04:14'And best of all, she pops up...
0:04:14 > 0:04:15- Hello!- A-ha!
0:04:15 > 0:04:16'..whenever we need her.'
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Franny, everybody. Eh?
0:04:20 > 0:04:23To show us all about du Chatelet's genius,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Fran's asked to meet us at a swimming pool.
0:04:27 > 0:04:28- All right, Fran?- Hey!- All right?
0:04:28 > 0:04:32So Emilie du Chatelet - hills, energy, roller-coasters. What?!
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Ah, right, well, what's the one thing
0:04:34 > 0:04:36you want to do when you're on a ride?
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- Go fast.- And to go fast, you need lots of movement energy,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41which is also known as kinetic energy.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44OK, so where does this kinetic - "movement" - energy come from?
0:04:44 > 0:04:45Well, I want to show you...
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- Yes?- ..using water balloons. - Ah.- Huh.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50How do you normally get a water balloon to move fast?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- Throw it really hard. - Exactly, so try it.- All right.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56DRUMROLL
0:04:56 > 0:04:57Hep! CYMBAL CRASH
0:04:57 > 0:04:59- Ah, very good.- Hey-hey!
0:04:59 > 0:05:01And the reason that worked
0:05:01 > 0:05:04is because energy can pass from one thing to another.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Ah, I see, so the energy passes from your arm into the balloon?
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Exactly.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10So does this idea work with any object?
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Yeah, yeah, it works for absolutely anything.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Even, er...you?
0:05:14 > 0:05:15- Yeah... Ah!- Bye!
0:05:17 > 0:05:21'Sorry, Fran, just checking the scientific principles out.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23'And you're right.'
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- LAUGHING:- I'm going to SO get you back for this!
0:05:27 > 0:05:28'Yeah, somehow I don't think Fran's
0:05:28 > 0:05:31'going to let us get away with that one.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34'I think we're about to get a little bit wet, too.'
0:05:34 > 0:05:36So, um, too late to say sorry? Sorry.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- Ah, well, we'll see, we'll see. - Ah, yes.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40So far, we've seen that we can
0:05:40 > 0:05:42- transfer the energy from our arm into a balloon.- Mm.- Yes.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44- But that's kinetic to kinetic.- Yes?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47But Emilie's genius was to realise that energy
0:05:47 > 0:05:50can actually pass on between different types of energy.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51- Light, heat, sound?- Yeah, yeah,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54- but we're here to look at potential energy.- What's that, then?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Raise an object from the ground and you give it potential energy.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03'To prove the point, Fran now wants us to jump in.'
0:06:05 > 0:06:08'Diving from these things needs a serious head for heights.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10'And that's not something you have, is it, Rich?'
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- No chance.- Ai-ai-ai!- Hey...
0:06:13 > 0:06:15- Don't worry. You see that one-metre board?- Mm?
0:06:15 > 0:06:16That's what you're going on.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18- One metre?!- Yeah. - Is that all he's doing?!
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Dom, you see that ten-metre one?
0:06:20 > 0:06:22- Thank you very much, goodbye.- Ah-ah!
0:06:22 > 0:06:25To go off that, we have our diver, Georgia.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26- Georgia?- Georgia?
0:06:26 > 0:06:28THEY BOTH YELL That's got to hurt.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31- Thank goodness for Georgia.- Yep, and we're going to measure both speeds
0:06:31 > 0:06:33- with this radar gun.- Let's do it.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37By jumping from the one-metre board,
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Rich will have SOME potential energy.
0:06:39 > 0:06:40One metre, easy.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43But, from the ten-metre board,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Georgia will have ten times that energy.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49This means that she will convert that potential energy...'
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- Go on! - '..into kinetic energy
0:06:52 > 0:06:54'and hit the water faster...'
0:06:54 > 0:06:56'..than THAT pathetic excuse for a dive.'
0:06:58 > 0:07:01One-metre board - 5.2 miles an hour.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Very brave(!)
0:07:02 > 0:07:03Right then.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Let's go up ten metres, eh?
0:07:08 > 0:07:11'Nothing prepares you for just how high this is.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15'Until you stand and peer over the edge.'
0:07:15 > 0:07:17'But how much faster will Georgia's dive be?'
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Go!
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Whoo-hoo-hoo!
0:07:22 > 0:07:23Graceful and fast,
0:07:23 > 0:07:28Georgia's clocked a lightning speed of 24.7 miles an hour.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30By climbing ten times higher,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Georgia had much more potential energy than me.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37And, when she jumped and converted that into kinetic energy,
0:07:37 > 0:07:38she travelled way quicker.
0:07:39 > 0:07:4224.7! Wasn't that incredible, the difference?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- That was incredible.- Yes. - But not as incredible as, er...
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- my payback.- What payback? - It's payback time!
0:07:47 > 0:07:48- Oh. No.- Yep, yep.- No!- Hey!
0:07:50 > 0:07:51LAUGHING: Good work, Franny!
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Du Chatelet's brilliant work meant engineers better understood
0:07:56 > 0:07:59how things behave when you push them from heights.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00Go!
0:08:02 > 0:08:04And some of the earliest downhill fun
0:08:04 > 0:08:06was had by mine workers in the US,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09who realised that sitting in coal wagons as they ran down the mountain
0:08:09 > 0:08:11was a great way to spend your lunch hour.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Word quickly spread
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and, soon, theme parks were building their own versions.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21And so the roller-coaster as we know it was born.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Well, not exactly, because those old rides
0:08:24 > 0:08:25only used to go about 6mph,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28which is about the speed of one of these things -
0:08:28 > 0:08:30- not exactly thrilling, is it? - No, it's not.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32That was until the next genius stepped up to the plate.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35He created something that made roller-coasters safer
0:08:35 > 0:08:36and faster than ever before.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40DRUMROLL We're talking about American inventor John Miller.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42- CYMBAL CRASH - Howdy, pardners.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45So how did roller-coasters go from this...
0:08:46 > 0:08:47- ..to THIS? - DUBSTEP PLAYS
0:08:47 > 0:08:50SCREAMING
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Much of this was down to John Miller,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55a designer and businessman who, in his time,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57invented over 100 roller-coaster parts.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02One of which was a huge game changer.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Come on, we're late for our meeting with the Genius Helper.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06All right. Go on, then - race you.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17This is Brendan Walker, expert in all things thrill rides.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19SCREAMING
0:09:19 > 0:09:21And just the person to fill us in on John Miller.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- Hey, Brendan. Lovely to meet you. - Hi, Brendan.- Good to meet you.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Right, John Miller - what was his genius?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30John Miller invented over 100 different parts of roller-coasters,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34but the most important one he invented was the up-stop wheel.
0:09:34 > 0:09:35And how does it work?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38By clamping the car on the track.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40So, before John Miller's genius invention,
0:09:40 > 0:09:42roller-coasters just had that on top of the track?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Yeah, this would be a bit like a car,
0:09:44 > 0:09:46but if you actually went over lots of bumps and stuff,
0:09:46 > 0:09:47- the car could fly off.- Yes.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- If you get a second one and clamp it on...- Yeah?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52..you can still go up and down but the car doesn't fly off.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53Brilliant.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Time for a bit of research.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59This is The Big One in Blackpool...
0:10:01 > 0:10:03..the tallest coaster in the UK.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07And as we know, more height means more speed.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08SCREAMING
0:10:08 > 0:10:1087mph of speed.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14- Oh, and you know this noise? - MECHANICAL CLUNKING
0:10:14 > 0:10:16That's another of Miller's inventions,
0:10:16 > 0:10:17called the safety ratchet,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19which stops you from rolling backwards.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23John Miller, you are a roller-coasting genius.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Did he invent the "stop and go back to the bottom" button?
0:10:25 > 0:10:26CLUNKING STOPS
0:10:26 > 0:10:28WIND RUSHES
0:10:28 > 0:10:29Er, no.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34THEY SCREAM
0:10:34 > 0:10:35By using Miller's wheels,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38coasters could be much bigger, much faster
0:10:38 > 0:10:40and, luckily for us, much safer.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44It's all in the name of science!
0:10:44 > 0:10:48THEY SCREAM
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Oh, dear! Oh, hey.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Oh, that was madness, especially that first big drop.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Yeah, horrible.- Why do people enjoy going on roller-coasters like that?
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Cos it makes you feel alive.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59There are very few things in modern life
0:10:59 > 0:11:02that allow you to feel the emotions you feel on here.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- We enjoy the fear because it's safe? - Exactly.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07So the world can ride on roller-coasters like this
0:11:07 > 0:11:10- all because of John Miller's wheels. - What a genius, eh?
0:11:10 > 0:11:11Thanks very much, Brendan.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13I'm afraid you don't get off that likely.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16John Miller's wheels allow you to do one other thing.
0:11:16 > 0:11:17Go upside down.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Oh, John Miller invented the upside-down roller-coaster as well?
0:11:20 > 0:11:22No, they were inverting roller-coasters
0:11:22 > 0:11:23before John Miller's wheels,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26but they relied purely on centripetal force.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28- If you're going fast enough... - What?- ..you stick!
0:11:28 > 0:11:31So, you know when you put water in a bucket and swing it around like that
0:11:31 > 0:11:32and the water doesn't come out?
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- It's exactly the same, but if you go too slow...- Yeah! ..it drops.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39- Yeah!- That's crazy.- Yeah. But now you can do it safely.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44We thought it was only fair to put his wheels to the test again,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47but this time on a looping roller-coaster.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52And it was around this point we regretted the decision.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57LOUD SCREAMING
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Thanks to this clever bloke from America,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12we got the loopy, speedy, scary roller-coasters
0:12:12 > 0:12:14that we know and love today.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I tell you what, I wish I'd never had that fry-up for breakfast.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18VOMITING
0:12:18 > 0:12:19What did I tell you?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Cereal and fruit before loop-the-loop.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Coming up...
0:12:25 > 0:12:28we build our very own scientifically slippery slide.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Science can make Dick and Dom faster than Usain Bolt?
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Which luckily required more research.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40THEY SCREAM
0:12:40 > 0:12:41But while we catch our breath...
0:12:43 > 0:12:48..it's time for more Random Genius-nessss!
0:12:48 > 0:12:51These days, roller-coasters use hi-tech computers and magnets
0:12:51 > 0:12:53to slow them down.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55But, in the early days, it was someone's job
0:12:55 > 0:12:57to sit on every ride and use a handbrake
0:12:57 > 0:13:00to stop it from speeding off the track.
0:13:00 > 0:13:01I want that job!
0:13:01 > 0:13:03You think normal rides are scary?
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Well, how about this one built on the top of a Las Vegas hotel,
0:13:07 > 0:13:11which leaves you dangling over 260 metres in the air?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Yeah, not for me, that one.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17The best thing in a park is the slide, it's a given.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18But imagine adding some water.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Some Las Vegas sunshine.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21And a nice pair of skimpies.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24And you've only gone and got the best place in the world.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27It's all thanks to our final genius, the Sultan Of Slides,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Herbert Sellner.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31What? "Skimpies"?
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Herbert Sellner was a woodworker who made children's toys and furniture.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39But, in 1923, he made something
0:13:39 > 0:13:42that would change your summer holidays forever.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44It doesn't exactly look safe, does it?
0:13:44 > 0:13:46He called it the water toboggan slide,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50and it's regarded as the birth of the water slide as we know it.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54And, just like the coal mine rides,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57the idea was copied and quickly spread throughout the world.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02You might think it's quite straightforward -
0:14:02 > 0:14:05run up the stairs, jump off, slide down. Easy!
0:14:05 > 0:14:06It's not that easy
0:14:06 > 0:14:09because water slides are a major feat of engineering.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Each slope, each curve has been designed
0:14:11 > 0:14:13right down to the last millimetre.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14We've got an expert coming here to tell us more
0:14:14 > 0:14:16but he won't be here for about half an hour.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18We've got the water park to ourselves.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20I mean, literally not a single person here.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Right, slide time!
0:14:22 > 0:14:23- SHE BLOWS THE WHISTLE - No running!
0:14:23 > 0:14:24Ooh!
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Slide time.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30ROCK MUSIC PLAYS
0:14:31 > 0:14:32HE SCREAMS
0:14:32 > 0:14:34'I'll be honest...' HE SCREAMS
0:14:34 > 0:14:36'..having a water park all to yourself...'
0:14:36 > 0:14:38High. It's very high up.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40'..is as good as it looks.'
0:14:40 > 0:14:43THEY SCREAM
0:14:43 > 0:14:46'But it can't all be fun and games.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48'Remember, we need to know how slides really work
0:14:48 > 0:14:51'for our own Monster Build.'
0:14:53 > 0:14:55'And who better to tell us
0:14:55 > 0:14:58'than Genius Helper materials scientist Ash?'
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- Ash.- Hey, guys, how you doing? - Ash.- Hey.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Right, what we want to know is how water slides work
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- and how do you go down in the fastest time possible?- Sure.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10You want to convert potential energy into kinetic energy.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- That's the underlying principle for how a water slide works.- Right.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Now, there's two things slowing you down.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- Number one is air resistance... - Mm-hm.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21..and, critically for a water slide, number two is friction.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24So what is friction?
0:15:24 > 0:15:28Well, imagine trying to drag something heavy across the floor.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32The two surfaces look smooth but, if we zoom in...
0:15:32 > 0:15:33Thank you!
0:15:33 > 0:15:35..the two surfaces rub against each other,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39making it difficult for the object to slide across the floor.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43That resistance to movement is known as friction.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44I thank you.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47The way a water slides minimises friction
0:15:47 > 0:15:50is it uses water as a lubricant between you and the slide,
0:15:50 > 0:15:51helping you to get faster.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54What it's doing is stopping you from sticking to the slide?
0:15:54 > 0:15:55That's exactly what it's doing.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Have you got anything that can put this theory to the test?
0:15:58 > 0:16:00So you guys are roughly the same shape and size
0:16:00 > 0:16:01and you're wearing the same clothing.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- So, you're going to go down around the same time.- Yeah.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06What we are going to do is put one of you in different clothing
0:16:06 > 0:16:09and I'm going to show to you how changing the friction
0:16:09 > 0:16:12is going to have huge effect on the time you go down the slide.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15'Now, you obviously wouldn't be wearing
0:16:15 > 0:16:17'your grandad's woolly jumper...'
0:16:17 > 0:16:19Just what you need on a boiling hot day(!)
0:16:19 > 0:16:20'..but you get the idea.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22'Clothing like this should mean lots of friction...'
0:16:22 > 0:16:23Right. '..and a slower time.'
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Let's do it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28'Let's put this theory to the test.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29'First up, it's my turn.'
0:16:29 > 0:16:31OK, ready?
0:16:31 > 0:16:32In three, two, one.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Ooh.
0:16:35 > 0:16:36Ooh-hey.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Going nice and quick. Streamlined.
0:16:39 > 0:16:40This is good.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Ah!
0:16:42 > 0:16:43What was my time?
0:16:43 > 0:16:44It was about 15 seconds.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46- Doing good.- 15 seconds?
0:16:46 > 0:16:47'Not a bad time.'
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Hey? Speedy!
0:16:49 > 0:16:51'And with the same clothing and technique,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53'Rich should do roughly the same.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57'But how will he get on with his grandad gear?'
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Ooh. Oh, it's slow.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03It's slow!
0:17:03 > 0:17:05I'm getting stuck!
0:17:06 > 0:17:08'Hmm. All those fibres in the clothing
0:17:08 > 0:17:11'are creating a rough surface for the slide to stick to.'
0:17:11 > 0:17:13This is really slow.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16'There's no way I'll be beating Dom's time in this.'
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Snail's pace.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Snail's pace? You wish!
0:17:20 > 0:17:21Come on!
0:17:25 > 0:17:26Ugh.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28What was taking you so long?
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- What do you think?- Eh? - These clothes!
0:17:30 > 0:17:33- What's wrong?- Look how heavy I am! - What's wrong with you? Eh?- Agh!
0:17:33 > 0:17:35What's your excuse?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38The slowest ride I've ever been on, that.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40'You are right, it was slow.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42'At 24 seconds, you were nine seconds slower
0:17:42 > 0:17:47'than my streamlined technique and slippery clothing.'
0:17:47 > 0:17:49This is really slow.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Going nice and quick, streamlined.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56'Friction, air resistance, gravity, potential and kinetic energy -
0:17:56 > 0:18:00who knew there was so much going on when it comes to water slides?
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Herbert Sellner, you are an Absolute Genius.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06Ah, you guys.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Our three geniuses have shown us
0:18:12 > 0:18:14that work and play can sometimes be the same thing.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16But have we learned enough from them
0:18:16 > 0:18:19- to tackle our very own thrill-ride Monster Build?- Ah!
0:18:19 > 0:18:21- We need to find a hill.- Hmm. - We need to go fast.- Yes.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- And we need... Well, we need some help.- Mm.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26That's why we've called in Brendan again -
0:18:26 > 0:18:29the perfect person to turn our ideas into reality.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- Brendan.- All right again?
0:18:31 > 0:18:32- All right.- All right?- Yes.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35We need to build a massive water slide.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Now, we have been on some amazing water slides in America.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41They were brilliant. This does not look like a brilliant water slide.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45- That's not massive.- But it has all the right ingredients.- Has it?
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- It's got a slippy surface here. - OK.- It's got a gradient.- Mm-hmm.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- We've got a weight, which will be you.- Yep.- So...
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- It didn't move! - That didn't go very far.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Well, the extra ingredient we use...
0:18:55 > 0:18:58- Yeah?- ..is water to make it... - Oh, water!- ..to make it slippy.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Go on, then. Let's see.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01This is us.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03- Yay!- It's going to be good.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Brendan is going to use these principles on a bigger scale -
0:19:08 > 0:19:10a much bigger scale.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12And he's added some tech to it.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16He's lined up some timing equipment used by Olympic athletes,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20because our challenge is to somehow get down the hill
0:19:20 > 0:19:23faster than Usain Bolt's 100-metre world record of...
0:19:23 > 0:19:269.58 seconds.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28To give us every chance of success,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31the slide is being built on a steep, but safe, slope,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33which will hopefully give us the speed we need
0:19:33 > 0:19:35to beat that incredible time. CHEERING
0:19:38 > 0:19:41But where do you get a monster slide?
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Brendan knows a guy.
0:19:43 > 0:19:44Of course he does.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47And this slide is one of the biggest in the country.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54The team have really got their work cut out putting it all together.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58This thing is massive!
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Brendan! Here we go. This looks impressive.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07- Big enough?- I'll say, it's definitely a Monster Build.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09- Is it fast enough? - Well, I've measured it out,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11it's just around 100 metres.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- Great.- I reckon it's fast enough,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15but I'll be able to tell by doing timed runs
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- using this piece of equipment.- Wow.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19We've got a beam of light at the top
0:20:19 > 0:20:21and, at the bottom, when you break it,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23it starts and stops the timer.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24- And the same to stop, yeah?- Yeah.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Ready... Hup! Oh, yeah.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28But are we really going to be faster than Usain Bolt?
0:20:28 > 0:20:30If you're not fast enough on the first run,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33I've got a few scientific tricks up my sleeve that you can try out.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36No way! Science can make Dick and Dom faster than Usain Bolt?
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- I reckon so.- It can be a new Olympic sport.- I reckon.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41- Let's go put our swim shorts on, then.- Right, see you in a bit.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48The last ingredient for this Monster Build is the all-important water,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50and that's where these guys come in.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52We've brought in the Staffordshire Fire Service
0:20:52 > 0:20:55to hook us up with the amount of water we'll need
0:20:55 > 0:20:57for a slide as giant as this.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59- 'And of course...' - Water!
0:20:59 > 0:21:03'..Dick has to have a go on the big hosepipe, er...thingy.'
0:21:10 > 0:21:12There's a challenge to be done here.
0:21:12 > 0:21:13Come on!
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Right, well, that's us told.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21With our game faces on, shorts and two-for-one dressing gowns,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23it's time to slide.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Getting down here faster than the best 100-metre sprinter in history -
0:21:28 > 0:21:30that's surely impossible.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32But when's that ever stopped us?
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Stretch, stretch, stretch, and look - bend the knees.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37'I'm in the zone.'
0:21:37 > 0:21:39On my count...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42'Come on, Rich! You've got this.'
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Three, two, one.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Go!
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Ah, maybe not.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50- Come on, you started it. - I've started it.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- It's started!- I'm going!- Go!
0:21:52 > 0:21:54- I'm going!- Come on!- I'm going!
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Oh, my...
0:21:58 > 0:21:59RICH LAUGHS
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I'm going! I'm going!
0:22:01 > 0:22:03'I'm not going.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07'I didn't create enough momentum to stop me from sticking to the slide.'
0:22:07 > 0:22:11He looks like he's created a kind of dam in the water. Um...
0:22:11 > 0:22:14The water's actually going around him.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17And he's stopped again.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19'Oh, this is even worse than Vegas.'
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Snail's pace!
0:22:22 > 0:22:25'I'm starting to think that me and water slides don't mix.'
0:22:25 > 0:22:27BRENDAN LAUGHS
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Brendan, this is rubbish!
0:22:30 > 0:22:32- Go on, put your back into it. - It's rubbish!
0:22:32 > 0:22:34'No, YOU were rubbish.'
0:22:34 > 0:22:35It's not good.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39That's quite enough of that.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- LAUGHING:- He's walking.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43'After seeing his embarrassingly slow attempt,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45'I decide to switch tactics.'
0:22:45 > 0:22:47I'm going to try and do a bit better
0:22:47 > 0:22:50by making the surface a bit wetter near the start.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54And then I'm going to have a big run-up as well.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56'And with the slide nicely soaked...'
0:22:56 > 0:22:57Are you ready?
0:22:57 > 0:22:59'..it's my turn.'
0:22:59 > 0:23:00Go!
0:23:02 > 0:23:06DOM SCREAMS
0:23:06 > 0:23:08'The running start really helps,
0:23:08 > 0:23:09'and I'm obviously beating Rich's time,
0:23:09 > 0:23:11'but will it beat Usain Bolt's?'
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- Oh, well, that's pretty good, mate. - It felt fast.- Just over ten seconds.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21- Really?- Yeah.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24'I got down in a respectable 10.25 seconds.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27'It's good, but way off Bolt's record.'
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- But that does prove that a run-up helps as well.- Yeah.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32So you get over that initial bit of friction.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Once you're going, you've got the momentum so you'll go faster.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39'Brendan's next tip is to add washing-up liquid.'
0:23:39 > 0:23:40- About four big dollops?- Yeah.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44One, two, three, four, five.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48'This reduces the friction of the slide much more than water alone.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50'A bit too much.'
0:23:50 > 0:23:51- A bit more on you.- No!
0:23:51 > 0:23:52You're going to go fast now.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Three, two, one!
0:23:56 > 0:23:58MUSIC: Night On Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky
0:23:58 > 0:24:00That's better!
0:24:00 > 0:24:02MUSIC WINDS DOWN
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Why have I stopped?!
0:24:04 > 0:24:07'Yet another fine display from this competitive athlete(!)'
0:24:07 > 0:24:08Brilliant(!)
0:24:09 > 0:24:11'Right, my turn. Here we go.'
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Slide!
0:24:12 > 0:24:15MUSIC: Up-tempo Night On Bald Mountain
0:24:15 > 0:24:16Whaa!
0:24:17 > 0:24:19'This feels fast!'
0:24:19 > 0:24:20Haaa-oh!
0:24:23 > 0:24:25RICH AND BRENDAN LAUGH
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- How did I do?- You were...
0:24:31 > 0:24:33- ..about the same, I'm afraid. - About the same?!
0:24:33 > 0:24:36I was flying down. The soap worked...
0:24:36 > 0:24:38..a bit too well, as I lost control and hit a dry patch,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40really slowing me down.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45'I'm starting to think that this challenge is impossible.'
0:24:45 > 0:24:48'Fear not, Brendan has one more trick up his sleeve.'
0:24:48 > 0:24:51I'm going to put you on an inflatable board each.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Yeah, but how is that going to help, sitting on an inflatable?
0:24:54 > 0:24:55It's going to spread your weight,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57but it's also going to squash the water
0:24:57 > 0:25:00so you're going to be aquaplaning, literally flying on the water.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- All right. Go on, then.- Right, I'm going to be fastest this time.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I'm going to be fastest.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Dick, are you good to go?
0:25:08 > 0:25:09THEY LAUGH
0:25:09 > 0:25:13In three, two, one.
0:25:13 > 0:25:14RUN!
0:25:15 > 0:25:20It works! With the Fire Service's help, I get off to a great start.
0:25:20 > 0:25:21This could be it.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25But hitting the wall threw my board sideways, slowing me down,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28and ended any hopes of beating Bolt's time.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29Gutted.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I hit the wall halfway down, unfortunately.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32If you didn't hit the wall,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34I think you'd have actually broken that record.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36UGH! Unlucky.
0:25:40 > 0:25:41'It's all down to me.'
0:25:43 > 0:25:47'The added mass in this vest will give me increased momentum
0:25:47 > 0:25:49'to overcome any friction along the slide.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54'We can't afford to lose a split-second here,
0:25:54 > 0:25:59'so the Fire Service are eliminating any dry patches with their hose.'
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Dom, are you ready?
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Give it everything you've got!
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Three, two, one.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08It's now...
0:26:08 > 0:26:09or never.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Slide!
0:26:11 > 0:26:16ROCK MUSIC PLAYS
0:26:18 > 0:26:20This is good! This is good!
0:26:26 > 0:26:28- 7.59!- Yes! - THEY LAUGH
0:26:28 > 0:26:31That was incredible!
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- BRENDAN LAUGHS DOM, WEAKLY:- Did I do it?
0:26:33 > 0:26:34You did it!
0:26:34 > 0:26:37You didn't just do it - you smashed it!
0:26:37 > 0:26:39You went just over seven seconds!
0:26:45 > 0:26:49I can't believe it! I averaged just under 30mph
0:26:49 > 0:26:51as everything came together for the last run,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55easily beating the 9.58 seconds we were aiming for.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Oh, yes, there it is in lights - 7.59.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02And that's science - we reduced your friction,
0:27:02 > 0:27:07we increased your mass and we gave you an inflatable board to lie on.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Ladies and gentlemen, Eddie the Eagle Usain Bolt Edwards.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11Yeah! Oh, my back.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14I tell you what, I'm going to go and lie in a hot bubble ba...
0:27:14 > 0:27:15- No!- No more bubbles. - No more bubbles.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17I'm going to have a lie down. Where's my gold medal?!
0:27:19 > 0:27:21'It's been an episode of ups...'
0:27:21 > 0:27:22No chance.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24- RICH SCREAMS - '..and downs...'
0:27:24 > 0:27:27'..as we discovered that, when it comes to rides and slides,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31'having fun requires some serious science.'
0:27:31 > 0:27:35Du Chatelet, Miller and Sellner, you're all Absolute Genius!
0:27:35 > 0:27:37- One more go?- Oh, go on, then.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47HE LAUGHS
0:27:51 > 0:27:52- RICH LAUGHS - Get out of it!
0:27:53 > 0:27:55He's loving it(!)
0:27:55 > 0:27:56I HATE IT!
0:28:01 > 0:28:03RICH SCREAMS