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| scpg02 |
 Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject: Hollywood movies hurt students' understanding of science |
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One of the worst movies for science I thought was Honey I Shrunk the Kids. He says he shrinks the object by removing the empty space between atoms. Ok, but just how did removing that empty space make everything weigh less? Weight is not about size but mass and the mass was not changed. I don't care how small he made those kids they still could not climb a flower or ride a bee. Besides that I liked the movie.
Contact: Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala
zkotala@mail.ucf.edu
407-823-6120
University of Central Florida
UCF physicist says Hollywood movies hurt students' understanding of science
| Quote: |
Movies such as Spiderman 2 and Speed generate excitement among audiences with their cool special effects. But they also defy the laws of physics, contributing to students’ ignorance about science.
Two University of Central Florida professors show just how poorly Hollywood writers and directors understand science in an article published in the German journal “Praxis der Naturwissenschaften Physik.” Common sense may indicate that people should know the stunts in movies are just make believe, but the professors say that’s not necessarily true.
Some people really do believe a bus traveling 70 mph can clear a 50-foot gap in a freeway, as depicted in the movie Speed. And, if that were realistic, a ramp would be needed to adjust the direction of motion to even try to make the leap, said UCF professor Costas J. Efthimiou, who co-authored the article.
“Students come here, and they don’t have any basic understanding of science,” he said. “Sure, people say everyone knows the movies are not real, but my experience is many of the students believe what they see on the screen.” |
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-08/uocf-ups081507.php
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| GhostofMaxwell |
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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In a way it does hurt science, but then I dont think I would have such an interest for science if it was for the inspiring(yet exaggerated) POWER OF SCIFI.
Honey I shrunk the kids was not part of those inspirations though.
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| GhostofMaxwell |
| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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Thats not to say that yesterdays scifi cant become tomorrows science.
One thing I find chilling is that a scifi film was made of man landing on the moon only ten years before Neil Armstrong and the others did it for real.
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| marnixR |
| Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:14 am Post subject: |
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since when did hollywood and science have anything in common ? that's one of the reason why science fiction (the book variety) and sci-fi (the film variety) should not be confused
in fact, once a decent portion of science enters a novel, hollywood will find ways to water it down so the concept can fit inside their narrow minds
just a few examples : what happened to chaos theory in 'Jurassic Park' ? and why was the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' never filmed while Douglas Adams was still alive ?
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| GhostofMaxwell |
| Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:23 am Post subject: |
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Yeah those are pretty poor but there is some quality . Things to come, 2001, Doom, to name a few.
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| maxHeadroom |
| Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Hollywood movies hurt students' understanding of science |
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| scpg02 wrote: |
One of the worst movies for science I thought was Honey I Shrunk the Kids. He says he shrinks the object by removing the empty space between atoms. Ok, but just how did removing that empty space make everything weigh less? Weight is not about size but mass and the mass was not changed. I don't care how small he made those kids they still could not climb a flower or ride a bee. Besides that I liked the movie.
Contact: Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala
zkotala@mail.ucf.edu
407-823-6120
University of Central Florida
UCF physicist says Hollywood movies hurt students' understanding of science
| Quote: |
Movies such as Spiderman 2 and Speed generate excitement among audiences with their cool special effects. But they also defy the laws of physics, contributing to students’ ignorance about science.
Two University of Central Florida professors show just how poorly Hollywood writers and directors understand science in an article published in the German journal “Praxis der Naturwissenschaften Physik.” Common sense may indicate that people should know the stunts in movies are just make believe, but the professors say that’s not necessarily true.
Some people really do believe a bus traveling 70 mph can clear a 50-foot gap in a freeway, as depicted in the movie Speed. And, if that were realistic, a ramp would be needed to adjust the direction of motion to even try to make the leap, said UCF professor Costas J. Efthimiou, who co-authored the article.
“Students come here, and they don’t have any basic understanding of science,” he said. “Sure, people say everyone knows the movies are not real, but my experience is many of the students believe what they see on the screen.” |
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-08/uocf-ups081507.php |
Explain a good movie for science!
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| scpg02 |
| Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Hollywood movies hurt students' understanding of science |
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| maxHeadroom wrote: |
Explain a good movie for science! |
2001 space odyssey, contact, Alien, Jaws.
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| marnixR |
| Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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"Silent running" was pretty good too
the best science fiction movies are the ones that don't attempt to copy a novel, or where the original author is involved in the making of the movie
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| GhostofMaxwell |
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:20 am Post subject: |
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I think we should take Scifi for what it is, and keep in mind that it doesnt need to be bang on with science to be quality viewing.
Does anyone like the old twilight zone? I find it really entertaining, although as scientifically reliable as a medieval alchemist.
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| marnixR |
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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so in a sense it doesn't really help students understand science at all - a bit like the guy who had to review Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" and thought watching the movie with Leonardo di Caprio was a suitable substitute
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| scpg02 |
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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What kills me are movies that aren't necessarily Sci-Fi still getting it wrong for drama's sake. Take the movie Underworld: Evolution, near the end the lead vampire guy grabs a rope and proceeds to pull a helicopter from the sky. It reminds me of the bionic man lifting some heavy object with his bionic arm.
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| GhostofMaxwell |
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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I think some are overlooking the word fiction in science-fiction. Just enjoy the ride.
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| scpg02 |
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| GhostofMaxwell wrote: |
| I think some are overlooking the word fiction in science-fiction. Just enjoy the ride. |
I don't over look the fiction part. I enjoy a lot of movies. Demolition Man is one of my favorites. Sometimes though, like with the helocopter, it's just so wrong you wonder how the writers even came up with the idea.
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| GhostofMaxwell |
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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I should have said I think MR is overlooking the word fiction in science-fiction. Just enjoy the ride. But I didnt want to single anyone out.
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| scpg02 |
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| GhostofMaxwell wrote: |
| I should have said I think MR is overlooking the word fiction in science-fiction. Just enjoy the ride. But I didnt want to single anyone out. |
Ah I see.
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