The Physics of Superheroes (September 16, 2005, Two)

Science Friday Kids' Connection^tm -- in association with Kidsnet
The Physics of Superheroes (September 16, 2005, Two)

Program Summary

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s...a physics professor! It’s Ira’s guest, who for several years has been using comic book superheroes to teach introductory physics.

Physics can be fascinating and fun, but some students have trouble with the abstract concepts. It doesn’t have to be that way, thought Dr. James Kakalios of the University of Minnesota, who began using examples from comic books to liven up his classes and make Isaac Newton less intimidating. “Dr. K,” as he likes to be called, starts with a “willing suspension of disbelief “(sorry, kids, Spidey’s powers are still impossible). Then once superheroes have been granted “miracle exemptions” from reality, he asks students to find out just how much force is needed to leap a tall building in a single bound, and other conundrums. If you ever wondered why did Krypton exploded, or whether Spiderman unintentionally killed his girlfriend, this is the place for you!

So, whereas in real life, a spider bite won’t give you anything but pain, in the world of Dr. Kakalios, anything is possible... and provable.

Guests

James Kakalios, author of "The Physics of Superheroes" (Gotham Books, 2005) ; professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis

Related Links and Resources

BBC Science & Nature: Hot Topics: The Science of Superheroes
National Geographic News, November 12, 2004: The Science of Superheroes: Beyond "The Incredibles"
Physicstoday.org: Teaching Physics with Superheroes

For Discussion:

How does “Dr. K” use comic books to teach physics? What is “willing suspension of disbelief”?

Why does Superman have superpowers? Why did his home planet of Krypton explode? How did his father know it was going to happen?

Explain why Spiderman’s attempt to save his girlfriend actually killed her.

How is the Flash able to run on water?

Can you think of any physics principles that could explain Elastigirl, the Human Torch, the Hulk, Wonder Woman?

Activities

Say what? What happens when even superheroes can’t explain their powers? Find out at Jim Kakalios: Superhero Science (University of Minnesota Institute of Technology).

Newton is not just a cookie. PBS Teacher Source uses snippets of films and TV shows to explore some basic principles of Isaac Newton’s physics in a series of activities. Visit Big Screen Physics: Inertia Activity; Big Screen Physics: Freefall Activity; Big Screen Physics: Buoyancy Activity; Big Screen Physics: Newton's Third Law.

Seeing, but not believing. Some people took themselves way too seriously and came up with Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics, a site which painstakingly explains why most film physics are impossible (well, we knew that!).

Comical. Have students choose their favorite superheroes, grant them “miraculous exemptions” and explain their powers with physics principles. Or divide them into groups and have them create a comic book superhero and story line using plausible physics.

For more fun with science fiction, visit these Science Friday Kids’ Connection pages:
July 25, 2003, Hour Two: Science Stranger Than Fiction
April 15, 2005, Hour One Jules Verne, Man of the Future
April 30, 2004, Hour Two: Science in Fiction

Use the search box below to perform a Google search within any of the specifc sites or general domains mentioned in this Activities section.

Hear the Program

RealAudio format (courtesy NPR Online)
Windows Media format (courtesy NPR Online)
mp3 download (Science Friday Podcast)

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