Pop Culture Physics
In Iron Man, Tony stark hovers using repulsors. What physics principle must these generate to keep him aloft?
What is Newton’s third law — equal and opposite force (thrust).
You feel warmer wearing dark clothes in the sun. Why?
Why do Dark colors absorb more light/energy.
What planet do we know as "The Red Planet"?
Mars
I’m always conserved, yet I can change form endlessly.
Why is NRG
Newton’s 3rd Law states that for every action, there is one of these.
What is an equal and opposite reaction
In Interstellar, time passes slower on the water planet near the black hole. What physics concept explains this?
What is Time dilation (general relativity).
You notice a foggy mirror after a shower. What physics explains it?
What is Condensation — water vapor cools and turns into liquid.
How is the Moon responsible for tides on Earth?
What Gravitational force
I’m invisible, but you feel me every day.
I push down on you with about 14.7 pounds per square inch.
What am I?
What is Atm/ Air Pressure?
The energy an object has due to its motion is called this.
What is Kinetic NRG
In Minecraft, players use water to break falls. What physics principle helps prevent damage?
What is Impulse — spreading force over time.
Ice floats in water. Why?
Why is Ice is less dense than water.
Why do black holes appear “black”?
How is Gravity so strong that light cannot escape.
I halt without a fault. Without me, current would run free. What am I?
what is Resistance?
This paradox asks: if a cat is placed in a box with a quantum trigger, is it alive, dead, or both until observed?
Who is Schrödinger’s Cat
Sonic runs through loops at high speed. What physics law lets him stay on track?
What is Centripetal force.
You see a rainbow after rain. What physics principle is this?
What is Refraction and dispersion of light.
Why is the Sun hot at millions of degrees in its core?
What is Nuclear fusion.
Archimedes supposedly shouted this word when he realized how to measure volume by water displacement.
How is Eureka
According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, this quantity in a closed system never decreases.
What is Entropy?
In The Flash, he runs faster than light in some scenes. What fundamental physics law does this break?
Special relativity — nothing with mass can reach light speed.
A car tire flattens in winter. Why?
What is (Charles’s law). Gas contracts at lower temperatures or Ideal gas law PV=NRT
Approximately how many miles is a lightyear?
what is 5.9 Trillion miles
+- 1 Trillion for answer
The faster you go, the shorter I seem. Einstein made me famous. What am I?
Where is Time / Time dilation
A metal spoon and a wooden spoon are placed in a pot of boiling water. After a few minutes, the metal spoon is too hot to touch, but the wooden spoon is still cool enough to hold. Why?
Why is Wood is an insulator
transferring heat to your hand much slower.