Everyone loves watching movies, and that is why they have emerged as an interesting and creative learning tool to engage students. In the study “Physics in Film”, researchers Efthimiou and Llewelyn from the University of Central Florida explained how the alternative version of their physical science course rode the popularity wave of Hollywood films to generate an interest in science.
The course successfully engaged students that have traditionally been resistant to taking any science course. As Physics is an academic subject that relies on understanding abstract concepts that are not always seen directly, you can draw some connections between certain films and Physics.
Scenes that lead to teachable science moments can be identified in films and used in class to concretize abstract physics concepts. This can create an audience of students with a high level of interest in the teaching tool and help enhance their learning experience.
Want your kids to fall in love with physics? Make sure to watch these 5 films related to physics.
What makes these movies interesting is a glimpse of a parallel universe, a future world with a mammoth increase in technological advancements; as well as its various undertones of drama, action, and mystery while we alternate between the past and present.
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The Theory of Everything (2014)
Inspired by Jane Hawking in her memoir ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’, this is a movie about the remarkable story of one of the world’s greatest astrophysicists, the late Stephen Hawking.
When Hawking received a terminal diagnosis at 21 years old, he decided to embark on his most ambitious scientific work – studying the very thing he now has precious little of – time.
Together with his first wife, Jane, they both set out to go against impossible odds, achieving more than they could ever have dreamed, and breaking new ground in medicine and science.
Particle Fever (2013)
It is a compelling documentary that showcases the inside story of six bright scientists going after the mysteries of the universe, showcasing the setbacks and successes in the world’s most inspiring and momentous scientific breakthroughs, potentially explaining the origin of all matter.
The film is cleverly presented in an engaging storyline that even those with the least interest in science will be able to grasp various concepts. Imagine having all this knowledge when attending your physics tuition, your teacher would have been pretty impressed!
Apollo 13 (1995)
This was the Hollywood film that started the famous phrase, “Houston, we have a problem”. In 1970, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert were commanding a “routine” mission to the moon, Apollo 13.
The trio finds everything going according to plan after leaving Earth. However, challenges soon followed shortly after when an oxygen tank explodes, and the scheduled moon landing is called off.
Numerous technical problems and subsequent tensions within the crew see the three astronauts attempt to survive in space, while scientists and engineers on the ground find a way to bring the damaged spacecraft back to Earth safely.
Moving and dramatic, this movie retains scientific integrity in exploring this significant moment in the history of space travel.
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Wall-E (2008)
Short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class, Wall-E is the last robot left on Earth and spends his days tidying up the planet, one piece of garbage at a time.
In one scene, we see him use a fire extinguisher to rocket his way out of a shell. When Wall-E fires off the extinguisher, he is pushed forward with a powerful force. As per Newton’s Law of Motion, gases that escape from the opposite direction utilise the same amount of force.
To Try: Here is an experiment that you can try at home that will demonstrate this very cool law of motion; in a word called “inertia.”
Put a playing card on top of a plastic cup, and put a coin on top of the card. In one sharp motion, quickly pull the card out from under the coin toward you. You will find that the coin falls into the cup.
The coin has inertia, meaning it wants to stay in one place. If you move the card slowly, it is not fast enough to overcome that force.
If you pull it quickly, the coin stays in one place and then drops into the cup. An object at rest will remain at rest. For an added challenge, put the card on your finger and the coin on top. Try to pull the card out until the coin stays on your finger.
The Flash (1990)
Known for his super speed, our hero easily passes through brick walls. It’s loosely inspired by the Quantum Tunnelling Concept since it’s done at the macro level. This part can also be described as a flashing phenomenon – pun intended.
At Concept First’s in-house lab, there are a variety of experiments to explore Newton’s Mechanics, Light Waves, and Electricity.
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