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(More customer reviews)"Back-of-the-envelope" calculations are near and dear to scientists' - and physicists' in particular - hearts. These are arithmatically simple estimations to give a feel for the right answer. James Kakalios takes this idea to a whole new level in this book, using simplifications and estimations to determine such widely diverse phenomena as the density of the planet Krypton (Superman's home world) to the strength of Spider-man's webbing. There is, of course, a healthy dose of physics, but it's very palatable, and not at all required for understanding the points made or conclusions drawn. In fact, this book derives from a course at the University of Minnesota that uses superheroes to demonstrate physics, rather than a course to verify (or vilify) the physical realities/possibilities of the characters in the comic books.
This distinction is important - Kakalios obviously has a great affection for both comics and physics, and refuses to automatically denigrate the efforts of the comic book writers. His modus operandi is to grant each hero a "one-time miracle exception" to the laws of physics, which is generally used to account for the superhero's powers. For example, it's granted that Superman can fly, or that Sue Richards (of the Fantastic 4) can turn herself invisible. Given the miracle of the superpowers, Kakalios then delves into the details or consequences of the power. What force of lift does Superman require to get himself into the air? Could Sue Richards see while invisible? (Answer: not in the visible region of the spectrum, but perhaps her eyes change to see in the UV or IR regions of the spectrum.) This method is very welcome - we all know that superheroes are absurd (yes, even Batman and others that don't technically have superpowers), so what's the point of dwelling on it?
Instead, we learn a little physics and a lot of comic book history. (Well, that was the division for me - being too young to remember the Silver Age of comics, and having taken three university-level physics courses.) It's written in the style of your favourite high-school science teacher: the one that knew what s/he was talking about but was prone to making extremely goofy (and geeky) science-related jokes. These teachers are obviously enthusiastic and made it fun to be in class, and you learned the material (perhaps in spite of yourself!). An added bonus: if you are a science teacher/professor, this book will likely give you some good ideas for new and fun examples in your classes.
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A complete update to the hit book on the real physics at work in comic books, featuring more heroes, more villains, and more science Since 2001, James Kakalios has taught "Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books," a hugely popular university course that generated coast-to-coast media attention for its unique method of explaining complex physics concepts through comics. With The Physics of Superheroes, named one of the best science books of 2005 by Discover, he introduced his colorful approach to an even wider audience. Now Kakalios presents a totally updated, expanded edition that features even more superheroes and findings from the cutting edge of science. With three new chapters and completely revised throughout with a splashy, redesigned package, the book that explains why Spider-Man's webbing failed his girlfriend, the probable cause of Krypton's explosion, and the Newtonian physics at work in Gotham City is electrifying from cover to cover.
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