Book Review Physics of the Superheroes

Today I am reviewing James Kakalios’ ‘The Physics of Superheroes’.

The Physics of Superheroes

This book skillfully shows what it would take to make the superheroes’ powers real or possible. In this book James Kakalios talks about the mechanics of a superhero, the energy of a superhero, the modern physics of a superhero, and then review what he had discussed. The first thing in mechanics he talks about is forces of motion on superheroes. It talks about superheroes jumping great heights in one jump, and how that is possible or not, like Superman jumping up high. Next he goes on to talk about how someone as strong as Superman would get that dense muscle. Next he talks about falling. He talks about a Spiderman comic where Spiderman ”killed ” Gwen because of an abrupt stop that broke her fall, and snapped her neck. Next he talks about the tensile strength of spider webs, and if they could hold Spiderman. Then he goes on to talk about the fastest superhero, Flash, and how friction, and sound would affect him at fast speeds.  Then he talks about the speed of light and how it would affect Flash. Afterward he talks about muscle mass, shrinking, and the effects of shrinking on muscle mass, like in Ant-Man. Then he talks about how he would have the strength as he was when he was normal sized. Then he talks about vision, sound, smell, taste, and touch at a microscopic level, for Ant Man.  Then he moves on to growing and how it affects the human body. He talks about you having the same strength as you were normal sized, so you would be big and weak. He also talks about a limit to your growth at 65 feet, were your bones would be so weak, they would snap.

In the next section Energy, Heat, and Light he discusses energy in food necessary to run fast, grow, or even shrink. Then he talks about heat at a small level on miniature sized superheroes. Then he talks about conducting a lot of electricity and its effects on Electro. He continues this magnetism and magneto’s powers. Then he talks about how superheroes can’t go back in time and change the past. He finishes with talking about Iron Man’s armor, and how it would work. Then he gets to the last section, where he talks about everything from mutants, to armored men in a short summary.  He talks about the Cyclops’ power, and Batman’s weapons. He also talks about different things that are possible by the Comics Code Authority, like Spiderman not shooting webs from his bottom, or Hulk’s pants not ripping completely. He also talks about how the Angel could fly, and how strong metals like Adamantium or Vibranium are possible. This book will question the way you’ve thought about superheroes and will probably inspire you to give an attempt to gain “Superpowers” in the real world.