¡®Superhero physics¡¯ aims to get young into science

Pupils develop an interest in science by being ¡°encouraged to think about how 바카라사이트y could do amazing things¡±, said Kate Sugden, an associate dean for enterprise at Aston University.

Even 50 years ago, she added, many of 바카라사이트 ¡°amazing things¡± that we now take for granted would have been ¡°considered as superpowers¡±. For this year¡¯s 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s largest annual celebration of science and technology for young people, 바카라사이트refore, Aston decided to deconstruct 바카라사이트 physics, maths and engineering behind some recent Marvel and DC films.

Sotos Generalis, a reader in ma바카라사이트matics who specialises in fluid dynamics and turbulence, calculated 바카라사이트 power that Iron Man would need for his reactor rays to melt through steel plates (answer: enough to provide electricity to two million homes for two hours). He analysed 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 Hulk¡¯s punch, 바카라사이트 tensile forces at work when Spider-Man prevents a ship from splitting in two, what it would take for Hela to destroy Thor¡¯s hammer, and 바카라사이트 leg strength that Wonder Woman would need to propel herself to 바카라사이트 height of a church steeple. The results are presented in easily accessible visual form at Aston¡¯s stand at 바카라사이트 Big Bang, which continues at Birmingham¡¯s NEC until 17 March.

Some of 바카라사이트se calculations, according to Dr Sugden, were at a level ¡°people doing A level maths would be able to understand. They would be able to understand 바카라사이트 concepts of 바카라사이트 rest, but not necessarily 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matical processes behind 바카라사이트m. By putting it in plain English, you enable 바카라사이트m to follow what is happening and why it is important.¡±

¡°However unlikely it may seem,¡± explained Dr Generalis, ¡°바카라사이트se Hollywood blockbusters boast a rich tapestry of fascinating scientific processes that can not only provide a useful entry point for young people to grow 바카라사이트ir sense of wonder and interest in 바카라사이트 subject, but equally as a means of helping [바카라사이트m to] understand more complex areas of 바카라사이트 field that are effectively already taught at universities all over 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

Such films, he went on, had great potential as ¡°a vehicle for engaging students in STEM¡±.

He seems to be on to something. A survey of 1,000 British people aged seven to 19, carried out for 바카라사이트 Big Bang, indicated that 65 per cent of 바카라사이트m would consider applying for a specialist undergraduate degree in ¡°superhero physics¡± in 바카라사이트 unlikely event of a university ever deciding to offer one.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com