Physics of Superheroes

I've been using pieces of James Kakalios' Physics of Superheroes for a couple years now. This year I'm using it a bit differently. Last summer it was one of two books my honors physics students could choose from for summer reading. Why should english teachers have all the fun? In the Physics of Superheroes Dr. Kakalios doesn't try to explain why superheroes have super powers, instead he focuses on two different questions.

The first is, what are the implications of these powers? In the video below I go through his idea of how fast Superman is moving when he "Leaps a tall building in a single bound". Dr. Kakalios also ask questions like, "Would Ant Man be able to hear us when we talk?"

The second is, if we allow heros to have super powers would they be able to do the things they are shown to be doing? For example, if the Flash can really run as fast as he does could he in fact run across water or up the sides of buildings?

All of the questions and examples used are written from the standpoint of teaching basic introductory physics. His examples are great and my students really enjoy this approach to learning. The book is now in it's second edition and I have to say I'm happy with the changes that were made.

For extra-credit I offered my students the opportunity to write some superhero physics. For more on this or to see the outcomes just go to our class page. They are supposed to be done by the end of Christmas break (2009-2010).