2008 Woodie Awards
The science behind superheroes
A University of Minnesota physics professor uses comics as a teaching tool
by Matt Sauer
Issue date: 10/14/08
Section: Campus News
Who's the faster comic book hero, The Flash or Superman?
It's a question for the ages, and one that Thursday's physics and astronomy seminar, "The Uncanny Physics of Comic Books," hoped to uncover.
The event was hosted by Minnesota State's physics department as part of the Clint Crosby and Lockheed Martin seminar series. The University of Minnesota's Dr. Jim Kakalios presented on the most unlikely of physics instructors: comic book characters.
Kakalios, a professor of physics at the U of M, first came up with the idea of incorporating comic book characters into his physics lessons shortly after he'd completed his graduate studies. He started collecting comic books in his spare time during this period as a way to relieve stress, not realizing than 20 years later it was this same hobby for which he would become primarily known.
After writing an article for the Star Tribune discussing the believability of the science behind a Spiderman comic, Dr. Kakalios decided to take his enthusiasm for the subject one step further.
"I realized that I could get some complicated [physics] ideas across to a lot of people by doing something as simple as reading them a comic," Kakalios said. "So I wrote a book."
Today, Kakalios has acquired a following as a result of the successful "Physics of Superheroes" course he teaches for freshmen, and he continues to lecture some of his class's content to the general public. When he's not too busy he also finds time to consult with Hollywood film crews (he was recently hired as a consultant for a Warner Bros. upcoming comic adaptation of "The Watchmen"), discuss physics problems with news reporters and get his name on a "Trivial Pursuit" game card.
The lecture itself is an entertaining look at classic moments in comic book history, with Kakalios providing commentary throughout. He discusses the feasibility of a person such as Superman being able to leap over a building in a "single bound" as well as several examples in classic Spiderman and X-Men comics that seem to get science absolutely right.
Kakalios also showed similarities between comic book physics and real world situations. For instance, he followed up a segment on inertia and momentum (using Spiderman's ability to catch people from falling to their deaths as an example) with a short talk about how airbags function and how they can save your life using surface area and time dilation.
Additionally, Kakalios spent time discussing more complex physics theories such as parallel dimensions, alternate realities and quantum mechanics.
But the presentation wasn't all about science and technology.
Kakalios made several interjections of his own throughout the lecture - noting how pedestrians in comic books always seem to have a running narrative on what is going on - which added an entertaining aspect to the discussion.
At one point, while discussing his long employment at the U of M Kakalios said, "Twenty years is a big deal in the science community. Once you hit that number the university gives you a complimentary [tobacco] pipe." He then pulled a pipe more suited for Sherlock Holmes from his pocket. He followed the moment up with a sigh, saying, "All those years at graduate school, and I've digressed into a prop comic."
By the end of the seminar, the audience had received a short study in several key physics theories, all of which were easily applicable to examples in comic books as well as everyday life.
"I actually learned a lot," MSU freshman Pete Jones said. "To be honest I only went for some extra credit, but if he came back I'd definitely go again just for fun."
Having fun while learning is the point Kakalios tries to make, reminding the audience before he left, "Remember, physics can be, and is, fun."
Kakalios' best-selling book, "The Physics of Superheroes" is now available in most bookstores and several parts of his lecture can be found on YouTube.
Kakalios even gave a definitive answer to the big question of his presentation - who's faster, Superman or The Flash?
"The Flash," he said.
Matt Sauer is a Reporter staff writer
It's a question for the ages, and one that Thursday's physics and astronomy seminar, "The Uncanny Physics of Comic Books," hoped to uncover.
The event was hosted by Minnesota State's physics department as part of the Clint Crosby and Lockheed Martin seminar series. The University of Minnesota's Dr. Jim Kakalios presented on the most unlikely of physics instructors: comic book characters.
Kakalios, a professor of physics at the U of M, first came up with the idea of incorporating comic book characters into his physics lessons shortly after he'd completed his graduate studies. He started collecting comic books in his spare time during this period as a way to relieve stress, not realizing than 20 years later it was this same hobby for which he would become primarily known.
After writing an article for the Star Tribune discussing the believability of the science behind a Spiderman comic, Dr. Kakalios decided to take his enthusiasm for the subject one step further.
"I realized that I could get some complicated [physics] ideas across to a lot of people by doing something as simple as reading them a comic," Kakalios said. "So I wrote a book."
Today, Kakalios has acquired a following as a result of the successful "Physics of Superheroes" course he teaches for freshmen, and he continues to lecture some of his class's content to the general public. When he's not too busy he also finds time to consult with Hollywood film crews (he was recently hired as a consultant for a Warner Bros. upcoming comic adaptation of "The Watchmen"), discuss physics problems with news reporters and get his name on a "Trivial Pursuit" game card.
The lecture itself is an entertaining look at classic moments in comic book history, with Kakalios providing commentary throughout. He discusses the feasibility of a person such as Superman being able to leap over a building in a "single bound" as well as several examples in classic Spiderman and X-Men comics that seem to get science absolutely right.
Kakalios also showed similarities between comic book physics and real world situations. For instance, he followed up a segment on inertia and momentum (using Spiderman's ability to catch people from falling to their deaths as an example) with a short talk about how airbags function and how they can save your life using surface area and time dilation.
Additionally, Kakalios spent time discussing more complex physics theories such as parallel dimensions, alternate realities and quantum mechanics.
But the presentation wasn't all about science and technology.
Kakalios made several interjections of his own throughout the lecture - noting how pedestrians in comic books always seem to have a running narrative on what is going on - which added an entertaining aspect to the discussion.
At one point, while discussing his long employment at the U of M Kakalios said, "Twenty years is a big deal in the science community. Once you hit that number the university gives you a complimentary [tobacco] pipe." He then pulled a pipe more suited for Sherlock Holmes from his pocket. He followed the moment up with a sigh, saying, "All those years at graduate school, and I've digressed into a prop comic."
By the end of the seminar, the audience had received a short study in several key physics theories, all of which were easily applicable to examples in comic books as well as everyday life.
"I actually learned a lot," MSU freshman Pete Jones said. "To be honest I only went for some extra credit, but if he came back I'd definitely go again just for fun."
Having fun while learning is the point Kakalios tries to make, reminding the audience before he left, "Remember, physics can be, and is, fun."
Kakalios' best-selling book, "The Physics of Superheroes" is now available in most bookstores and several parts of his lecture can be found on YouTube.
Kakalios even gave a definitive answer to the big question of his presentation - who's faster, Superman or The Flash?
"The Flash," he said.
Matt Sauer is a Reporter staff writer
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