Physics 101
From Encyclopedia Superheroica -the Encyclopedia of Superheroes
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| - | The physics of superheroes. | + | The physics of superheroes. |
[[Image:v3popsciphysics.jpg|thumb|250px|From the pages of Popular Science.]] | [[Image:v3popsciphysics.jpg|thumb|250px|From the pages of Popular Science.]] | ||
| - | = | + | =SuperPower Physics= |
| - | Superpowers are, of course, the extraordinary abilities possessed by [[superheroes]] and [[supervillains]]. Some get | + | Superpowers are, of course, the extraordinary abilities possessed by [[superheroes]] and [[supervillains]]. Some get |
| - | + | their powers from technology. Some get their powers from natural or supernatural sources. Whatever the case, Einstein | |
| - | + | was the first to suggest that there must be one unified theory that would explain them all. He did not find it in his | |
| - | From the pages of [http://www.popsci.com/entertainment-gaming/gallery/2008-01/superhero-physics Popular Science] < | + | lifetime, but as soon as a definitive explanation is found, we will include it here. |
| + | |||
| + | In the meantime, we are left to consider the possibilities. What exactly are these superpowers? Where do they come from | ||
| + | |||
| + | and how do they work? What are the real effects of the actions of superheroes? Here are some of the leading theories. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Popular Science== | ||
| + | |||
| + | From the pages of [http://www.popsci.com/entertainment-gaming/gallery/2008-01/superhero-physics Popular Science] comes | ||
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| + | a look at a few heroes in particular. The magazine tries to reverse-engineer the powers of [[Superman]], [[Magneto]], | ||
| + | |||
| + | etc. They offer a few plausible explanations like: ''Applying relativity (E = mc2), a single gram of mass converted | ||
| + | |||
| + | completely into energy would yield 90 trillion joules. That’s 18 million lightning bolts!'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==The University of Chicago== | ||
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| + | [http://home.intranet.org/~estin/essays/comics-for-phys.txt Comics for Physicists], however, compels us to reconsider | ||
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| + | certain aspects of the actions of superheroes which we would otherwise take for granted. What <b>really</b> happens | ||
| + | |||
| + | when superheroes do things in the real world? Paul A. Estin, Michael S. Schiffer, et al. have compiled a number | ||
| + | ''REALISTIC ORIGIN COMICS: THE FANTASTIC FOUR. Flying in the first spacecraft, they and their ship are bombarded by cosmic radiation. They manage to pilot the ship back to earth, but the rays have changed them forever. That's right-- they all get radiation poisoning and die.'' | ||
[[Category:education]] | [[Category:education]] | ||
| + | [[Category:section 1]] | ||
Revision as of 02:03, 4 May 2009
The physics of superheroes.
SuperPower Physics
Superpowers are, of course, the extraordinary abilities possessed by superheroes and supervillains. Some get
their powers from technology. Some get their powers from natural or supernatural sources. Whatever the case, Einstein
was the first to suggest that there must be one unified theory that would explain them all. He did not find it in his
lifetime, but as soon as a definitive explanation is found, we will include it here.
In the meantime, we are left to consider the possibilities. What exactly are these superpowers? Where do they come from
and how do they work? What are the real effects of the actions of superheroes? Here are some of the leading theories.
Popular Science
From the pages of Popular Science comes
a look at a few heroes in particular. The magazine tries to reverse-engineer the powers of Superman, Magneto,
etc. They offer a few plausible explanations like: Applying relativity (E = mc2), a single gram of mass converted
completely into energy would yield 90 trillion joules. That’s 18 million lightning bolts!
The University of Chicago
Comics for Physicists, however, compels us to reconsider
certain aspects of the actions of superheroes which we would otherwise take for granted. What really happens
when superheroes do things in the real world? Paul A. Estin, Michael S. Schiffer, et al. have compiled a number REALISTIC ORIGIN COMICS: THE FANTASTIC FOUR. Flying in the first spacecraft, they and their ship are bombarded by cosmic radiation. They manage to pilot the ship back to earth, but the rays have changed them forever. That's right-- they all get radiation poisoning and die.
