superhero physics

[jim_doki]

Ok, so years ago I'm driving with my dad, and I find out that there's a physics lecturer using Comic Books as a gateway to get kids into physics. As an example he used Superman's "Ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound". This was originally explained by Earth's gravity being less intense than that on Krypton. So how could the gravity be more dense? well, if Krypton was that much bigger than Earth, it would be a Gas Giant, so thats out, but if it was the same size, roughly, but denser, it would account for the massive gravity shift, and add to it's instability, hence it exploded.

so, my question to you is:
can you use physics to explain any superhero powers/abilities to a layman like me?

for bonus points, if you can find the name of this professor, and if he wrote a book about it? Bonus points

 

[NeedAUserName]

Why didn't I know about this guy? If I had read comic books about Physics I may stand a chance at passing my Physics exam! I have 4 weeks to prepare for an exam I know almost nothing about due to a string of incompetent teachers.

 

[jim_doki]

He did write a book about it. Which I read.

http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Superheroes-James-Kakalios/dp/1592401465

*runs to the bookstore*
Incidentally, the publisher is Gotham. coincidence?

 

[ThaBenMan]

Cracked.com did a list [http://www.cracked.com/article_17185_7-awesome-super-powers-ruined-by-science.html] about this sort of thing. With super strength, for example, since all the pressure is concentrated in your hands, they'll just punch through that car you pick up like a dagger through a watermelon.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Yes, but its all pushed under the blanket when you discover that Deadpool rocks

 

[Trivun]

One of my old friends from school had a book on superhero physics last eyar, when we were doing our Physics A-Levels ironically. I think that some powers that superheroes have could be possible in the future by genetic manipulation or natural evolution a la Heroes or X-Men. Note I said some, so we aren't going to see people flying like Superman and Nathan Petrelli or shooting lasers out of their eyes like Cyclops. However, I suppose things like Claire's power of regeneration (Heroes again) or Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) being able to phase through solid objects could be possible in the future, depending on the occurence of specific genetic mutations (these both naturally appear in nature, see Wave-Particle Duality for Kitty's ability, and as for regeneration, this is seen in various living creatures on a regular basis. Just chop a worm in half or cut off a frog's leg and you'll see what I mean.).

 

[sheic99]

Yes, but its all pushed under the blanket when you discover that Deadpool rocks

Hopefully, Ryan Reynolds does the character justice.

 

[atol]

Superheros from a physics standpoint makes them look rather ridiculous. The vast majority of what they do can't be explained by physics/biomechanics.

 

[jasoncyrus]

Ok firstly where do you get the conclusion that a bigger planet HAS to be a gas giant?

Just because its a bigger rock doesn't mean it has to be a gas giant.