BZ gas or Agent Buzz. is an odorless, non-lethal incapacitating agent that causes hyperthermia, severe hallucinations and, in large enough doses, death and it attaches to the acetylcholine receptors.
Atwood's machine problem was formulated by George Atwood in 1784 to study constant acceleration.
Elevator cable is actually ropes, braids of synthetic fiber woven together to make it stronger. The tensile strength, the weight it will hold and elasticity (stretching) need to be factored in with respect to preventing an object from breaking free. Moreover, tying of a knot with a chisel in addition to back-splicing will also help.
Peter Weller contributed to MacGyver by not only guest-starring here, but also directing Skyscraper - Power (2018) and Guts + Fuel + Hope (2018).
Even though Mac makes it a point to properly vent his mask before entering Mason's hide he failed to ensure a proper seal by allowing his hair between the mask and skin. This would not allow the mask to seal properly and the tear gas would have certainly entered and caused breathing and vision issues as tear gas does. We know it's tear gas as Mason mentions it in interrogation when Mac "offers" him water