Bad Movie Physics 05/05/2008Lecture 12 1UCSDPhysics 10Hollywood vs. PhysicsHollywood vs. PhysicsWhy knowledge of physics ruins many a movieWhy knowledge of physics ruins many a movieSpring 2008 2UCSDPhysics 10People Like to Make Things UpPeople Like to Make Things Up••Hollywood producers never took Physics 10Hollywood producers never took Physics 10– It shows••At least hire consultantsAt least hire consultants••Otherwise you just have to pull ideas out ofOtherwise you just have to pull ideas out of……– thin airSpring 2008 3UCSDPhysics 10The Good EggsThe Good Eggs••Despite the general lack of care/concern forDespite the general lack of care/concern forphysics in movies, a few get things outstandinglyphysics in movies, a few get things outstandinglyright!right!– 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, before moon landings!)– 2010 sequel to 2001– Modern Star Trek movies get a lot of the details right• but by no means all… Get seat-belts for gracious sake!••Most movies in which they let Mother Nature takeMost movies in which they let Mother Nature takecare of the choreography, things work out wellcare of the choreography, things work out well– It’s the rigged-up stunt scenes where things go wrongSpring 2008 4UCSDPhysics 10The Rotten EggsThe Rotten Eggs••Though entertaining (and I like some of these),Though entertaining (and I like some of these),among the most guilty betrayers of physics are:among the most guilty betrayers of physics are:– Armageddon! (at the top of the list for a reason)– Mummy movies– Cliffhanger (couldn’t even bear the previews)– Mission Impossible (either one)– Speed (fun, but wrong)– Mel Gibson, Schwarzenegger, James Bond movies••Interesting case study: Armageddon vs. Deep ImpactInteresting case study: Armageddon vs. Deep Impact– Deep Impact hired science consultants and did okayBad Movie Physics 05/05/2008Lecture 12 2Spring 2008 5UCSDPhysics 10Themes of physics misrepresentationThemes of physics misrepresentation••Everything goes BOOM, and explodes in huge fireballEverything goes BOOM, and explodes in huge fireball– Real life more often just crunches (we’re not loaded with dynamite)••Momentum seldom conservedMomentum seldom conserved– Bullet sends victim flying out window, shooter remains motionless••Hearing sound in spaceHearing sound in space– no air to carry sound waves••Seeing laser beams in spaceSeeing laser beams in space– What are they reflecting off of? Is it smoky?••Aerodynamic spaceships, airplane-like maneuveringAerodynamic spaceships, airplane-like maneuvering••Exploding rather than Exploding rather than implodingimploding submarines submarines••Fake props: wrong inertia propertiesFake props: wrong inertia properties– Raiders of the Lost Arc: swiped huge gold statue like it was nothing!Spring 2008 6UCSDPhysics 10Movie ExamplesMovie Examples……••GoldeneyeGoldeneye, catch up to airplane, catch up to airplane– Terminal velocity of human: 50 m/s, up to 70 m/s ifyou reduce your effective area by a factor of two– Terminal velocity of plane in dive configuration:75-80 m/s (more with engine at full power)– Got a late start, too…– Also problem pulling out of dive!Spring 2008 7UCSDPhysics 10Calculations relating to selected scenesCalculations relating to selected scenes••SpeedSpeed, bus jump, bus jump– 150-200 ft, level (call it 45 m)– bus at 30 m/s (67 mph): takes 1.5 seconds to cross– drops 11 m (36 ft) in 1.5 s– could work, at 15-20 degree launch angle, no air dragSpring 2008 8UCSDPhysics 10Websites Websites & Assignments& Assignments••WebsitesWebsites– www.space.com/opinionscolumns/opinions/plait_000217.html– www.badastronomy.com/••AssignmentsAssignments– HW for 2/11: Hewitt 7.E.42, 7.P.9, 6.R.16, 6.R.19,6.R.22, 6.R.23, 6.E.8, 6.E.12, 6.E.43, 6.P.6, 6.P.12,8.R.29, 8.E.47, 8.P.9, plus two more problemsaccessible from assignments