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We have
explored our physical world and universe in great detail this year. By now, you
have developed a good sense of the way things work and behave. In this project,
you will tap into that "developed sense" and critique a movie with an eye
towards physical realism and accuracy.
You are to
"critically watch" one of the movies listed below. Hollywood consistently
exaggerates what we see and hear; the thought is that they can enhance
the drama or suspense of the movie by altering reality (either insignificantly
or a lot). The movies listed below have known errors relating to one or
several topics studied in physics this year. Your job is to categorize the
errors as you see or suspect them and relate the event to the law of physics
being violated. Tools may come in handy as you watch (for example, a stopwatch
is a handy item to have).
- 1.
Choose one movie from the list below. NOTE: If you desire to report on a
movie other than one on the list, you must have approval from Mr. P. prior to beginning your
project.
- 2. Submit
a report on the physical errors you find in the movie. Cite the error
and state the physical law in violation. The more detail/explanation/formulas you provide, the better
your grade will be. Support your observations/claims with sample calculations.
3. Write a
paper with your findings and submit by the due date. The project
is worth 50 pts.
- EXAMPLES OF
THINGS YOU WANT TO QUESTION
- 1.
Explosions/flames: too extreme for the thermodynamics involved?
2. Bullets
doing weird thing
3. Guns that
continue to fire without reloading
4. Strange
behavior of various falling objects
5. Outer
space explosions/battles
6. "Visible"
laser beams
7. Sounds
that are out of place or exaggerated (or understated)
8. Forces
that are out of balance, not accounted for, or misrepresented
9. Wacky
momentum physics/collisions
10.
Conservation of energy violations
etc.,
etc., etc., ...........
- Check your class calendars for
project due
dates.
1. CONTACT
2. THE
MATRIX (1, 2, or 3)
3. THE
ITALIAN JOB
4. THE
DAY AFTER TOMORROW
5. RUSH
HOUR (1, 2 or 3)
6.
ARMAGEDDON
7.
TITANIC
8. STAR
WARS (any of them)
9.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
10. THE
HULK
11. THE
CORE
12.
SPIDER MAN (1, 2 or 3)
13. SPACE
COWBOYS
14. PEARL
HARBOR
15. SPEED
(1, 2 or 3)
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