The Physics of Superheroes | 
 enlarge | Author: James Kakalios
Publisher: Gotham
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $1.69
You Save: $13.31 (89%)
New (46) Used (36) from $1.60
Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 37268
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.3 x 1
ISBN: 1592402429
Dewey Decimal Number: 530
EAN: 9781592402427
ASIN: 1592402429
Publication Date: September 21, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The Physics of Superheroesapplies the reality of physics to the fantasy of comic books. James Kakalios explores the scientific plausibility of the powers and feats of the most famous superheroesand discovers that in many cases the comic writers got their science surprisingly right. Along the way he provides an engaging and witty commentary while introducing the lay reader to both classic and cutting-edge concepts in physics, including:
What Supermans strength can tell us about the Newtonian physics of force, mass, and acceleration
How Icemans and Storms powers illustrate the principles of thermal dynamics
The physics behind the death of Spider-Mans girlfriend Gwen Stacy
Why physics professors gone bad are the most dangerous evil geniuses! BACKCOVER: Praise for The Physics of Superheroes
Surprisingly enough, according to Kakalios, comic books get their physics right more often than youd think.
The Boston Globe
Writing with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Kakalios looks at classic comics with a physicists eye. . . . Outstanding.
The Orlando Sentinel
Kakalios, a University of Minnesota physicist and unrepentant comics nerd, offers up jovial, largely equation-free deconstructions of Ant-Mans shrinking ability, the centripetal acceleration of Spider-Mans swing, and the strength of his silk web.
Discover
Wildly entertaining, yet scientifically accurate Comprises a fairly solid introductory education in physics, sweetened with a history lesson in classic comic book superheroes.
Metro
Offers a droll but sincere look at what Superman and Spider-Man can teach about physics. . . . Entertaining. . . . His explanations are lucid and smooth.
Science magazine
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 The Physics of Superheros August 13, 2008
WOW!
I am a middle school teacher in Crockett CA. I have taught science, language arts, reading and history over the past five years. Science has always been my favorite subject, and my passion, and this book is part of that passion for learning and understanding. Now I am an 8th grade science teacher, and have found this book the most valuable in my teaching collection.
Not only is it informative, but it's an attention grabber that can't be put down. Cover to cover, Jim Kalalios writes in a style that is mater a fact, with simple explanation of the most complex formulas.
I use his text, as will as others and superheroes as a device to stimulate my students in all areas of learning, but in science, this book is the back bone of my curriculum. Jim's explanations of "matter", "energy", "the dead cat theory", and "the string theory" are clearly and thoughtfully exposed using superheroes and their super powers. How is it possible for Superman to jump tall buildings, and Flash to runs at such speeds? The "principle of conservation of energy" along with the formula for "work", and "kinetic energy" are explained in fascinating detail. All students can understand this! I can't think of teaching without this powerful and enlighten book.
If you teach science, from K-12 or college, this book is a must! I also can't express my sear joy to have met him at ComicCon 2008, and get his signature in my dog eared book. Thanks Jim!!!
As a foot note, my daughter is attending UC Irvine where a teacher offers course called "The science of superheroes" base solely on Jim's book. Check it out!
awsome!! July 30, 2008
i'm an engineering major and have taken physics courses, this auther really explains physics very well. the topic is very entertaining and it is hard to put down. 5 stars
 An interesting way to approach a complex subject June 19, 2008
As an engineer I am always drawn to books that attempt to bridge the gap between the theory and application sides of science. This book goes one step further and attempts to draw connections between the known aspects of physics and the abilities of comic book heroes. I found it to be easy to understand and rather enjoyed the paradoxes that some comic book powers seem to present when viewed from a physics standpoint.
You do not have to be a technical person to read or understand the book, in fact I'd say it is a great way to get some points across to the non-technical among us. The book could easily be read and understood by High School students on up and would serve as a great companion to an introductory physics course text.
The book does get a tad dry in spots and could have used some more general illustrations to help explain concepts to those new to the whole physics realm.
Entertainment and Physics; not an oxymoron March 26, 2008
James Kakalios teaches a course on the Physics of Superheroes, so I would expect that he would write with clarity and humor. And this is exactly what Kakalios delivers. Not only does he explain physics, he also delves into the relevant history of the comic books. He even reproduces those parts of the comic strips that he talks about so that his discussion is always in context. When the physics gets tough, Kakalios will take a few extra pages and explain things in more detail (for example, transistors). But since physics is difficult, even with the extra explanations I did not get everything. Like any book I read, I will skip over those parts that are just too conceptual for me. This book has provided the best explanation so far of quantum mechanics and of transistors, but I can't rule out that this might also be because of the knowledge I gained from other books I have read lately, including The God Particle by Leon Lederman. It was refreshing however, not to have the author try to sell me their viewpoint, which frequently happens when they write about their own research (for example, The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene). Overall this book was well worth the time and energy invested and it was far superior to the similarly constructed Physics of the Buffyverse.
gift idea January 13, 2008
THis book ended up being a Christmas present for my brother ( a physics teacher) and he absolutely loved it. He really liked the book and ended up reading it the following day.
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