What are the limits of physics?
If you're a superhero like The Flash, you can run at super speed. But how much would you have to eat -- and would you breathe all of the Earth's oxygen as you ran? Those are some of the questions posed by U of M physics professor, James Kakalios in his popular seminar "The Physics of Superheroes."
Abstract theories like relativity, quantum mechanics, and theoretical concepts such as alternate universes suddenly seem relevant when viewed from the perspective of comic books, superheroes, and super powers. Professor Kakalios says students have an "Aha!" moment as they use critical thinking to calculate and analyze the extraordinary abilities of The Flash, Superman, Spider-Man, and the X-Men. But it's not all fantasy. "People are so surprised and amused that anything in a comic book can be accurate," Professor Kakalios says, "that they almost don't realize that they are learning real physics." He cites as examples the interplay between electricity and magnetism (electro-magnetism) that leads to radio, television and cellphones. Then there's the superhero Magneto who can levitate objects based on the same principle (diamagnetic levitation) employed in MRI machines in hospitals.
Video:
Dr. James Kakalios
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