FANTASTIC VOYAGES. Second Edition

Transcription

1 FANTASTIC VOYAGES Second Edition

2

3 SECOND EDITION FANTASTIC VOYAGES Learning Science Through Science Fiction Films Leroy W. Dubeck Suzanne E. Moshier Judith E. Boss 1 3

4 Leroy W. Dubeck Temple University, Philadelphia USA Judith E. Boss University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska USA Suzanne E. Moshier University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska USA Cover illustration: Photos from Photofest. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dubeck, Leroy W., 1939 Fantastic voyages : learning science through science fiction films / Leroy W. Dubeck, Suzanne E. Moshier, Judith E. Boss. 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN (alk. paper) 1. Physics Study and teaching Audio-visual aids. 2. Biology Study and teaching Audio-visual aids. 3. Science fiction films. I. Moshier, Suzanne E. II. Boss, Judith E. III. Title. QC30.D dc ISBN Printed on acid-free paper Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. 1994, first edition, AIP, Melville, NY. AIP Press is an imprint of Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Printed in the United States of America SPIN Springer-Verlag New York Berlin Heidelberg A member of BertelsmannSpringer Science Business Media GmbH

5 Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS... INTRODUCTION... xiii xv PHYSICS CHAPTER 1 SCIENCE... 3 A Brief History of Science... 3 Science, Religion, and Technology... 4 The Scientific Method... 4 Science and the Media... 5 The Andromeda Strain, 5 Measurement and Uncertainty... 5 Scientific Notation... 6 Units and Standards... 7 Changing Units... 8 Exercises... 8 CHAPTER 2 MECHANICS Speed and Velocity Frame of Reference Acceleration Newton s Laws of Motion Momentum The Day the Earth Caught Fire, 18 / Superman, 19 / 2010, 20 Energy Forbidden Planet, 23 / The Empire Strikes Back, 24 / Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 25 Rotational Motion : A Space Odyssey, 28 / 2010, 29 Gravity The Black Hole, 31 v

6 vi Contents Satellite Motion : A Space Odyssey, 34 / Aliens, 34 Exercises CHAPTER 3 ASTRONOMY The Solar System: The Planets The Sun The Moon , 42 / Total Recall, 42 / Aliens, 43 Meteors and Comets Meteor, 45 / Deep Impact, 46 The Galaxy and the Universe The Black Hole, 49 The Evolution of the Universe Intelligent Life Elsewhere Star Trek IV, 53 Ancient Astronauts : A Space Odyssey, 56 / Hangar 18, 56 Exercises CHAPTER 4 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM Electrical Forces Electrical Charges Electric Currents Electric Power The Day the Earth Stood Still, 65 Magnetism Computers : A Space Odyssey, 71 / Colossus: The Forbin Project, 71 / Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 71 / Blade Runner, 71 Exercises CHAPTER 5 ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS The Atom Antimatter Atomic Spectra Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 76 / The Fly (1986 Version), 77 / The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, 77 / Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 77 The Nucleus Effects of Radiation... 80

7 Contents vii Radiation Detectors Nuclear Fission and Fusion The Three Mile Island Accident The Chernobyl Accident The China Syndrome, 85 Nuclear Terrorism The Peacemaker, 86 Forbidden Planet, 87 Aliens, 88 Elementary Particles Fantastic Voyage, 89 / Outer Limits: The Production and Decay of Strange Particles, 89 Exercises CHAPTER 6 RELATIVITY AND TIME Time Dilation Time Travel Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 98 / Superman: The Movie, 98 / Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 98 / The Time Machine, 98 Length Contraction Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 99 Increase of Mass with Speed Mass-Energy Transformation General Theory of Relativity Gravity and Time The Black Hole, 102 Exercises CHAPTER 7 THE STATES OF MATTER The Solid State Star Trek: Arena, 105 Density Size, Mass, and Strength Them!, 107 The Liquid State Pressure The Abyss, 109 Buoyancy Pascal s Principle Gases: Atmospheric Pressure

8 viii Contents The Gaseous State Equation of Continuity Bernoulli s Principle Star Wars, 115 / Blade Runner, 116 Diffusion Them!, 116 Exercises CHAPTER 8 HEAT, TEMPERATURE, AND THERMODYNAMICS Temperature Thermal Expansion Heat Specific Heat Heat Transfer Silent Running, 123 / The Empire Strikes Back, 123 / Phase 4, 123 / 2010, 124 Change of State Them! 125 / The Thing (1951 Version), 125 Thermodynamics First Law of Thermodynamics Second Law of Thermodynamics Zardoz, 128 Exercises CHAPTER 9 WAVE MOTION AND SOUND Waves Wave Speed Transverse Waves Longitudinal Waves Interference The Doppler Effect Sound Superman, 134 Speed of Sound The Abyss, 135 / The Day of the Triffids, 135 Resonance Loudness Shock Waves and the Sonic Boom The Day the Earth Stood Still, 136

9 Contents ix The Electromagnetic Spectrum The Day of the Triffids, 137 Light Polarization Holography Star Wars, 141 / Total Recall, 141 Exercises CHAPTER 10 GLOBAL WARMING AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT How the Greenhouse Effect Works Types of Greenhouse Gas Projections of the Effects of Global Warming Kyoto Protocol What Can Be Done to Reduce the Impact of the Greenhouse Effect Related Films Star Trek: The Next Generation, A Matter of Time, 149 / The Arrival, 150 Exercises BIOLOGY CHAPTER 11 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS The Cell Theory Cell Structure and Function Selected Organelles and Their Functions Cell Size Organisms Kingdoms of Organisms The Andromeda Strain Exercises CHAPTER 12 CELLULAR REPRODUCTION Diploid and Haploid Cells Fertilization and Meiosis Development Genes Mutations and Them! Exercises

10 x Contents CHAPTER 13 THE ENERGY NEEDS OF LIVING THINGS Work Requires Energy Organization Requires Energy Enzymes and Pathways Adenosine Triphosphate Hydrogen and Electron Carrier Molecules Photosynthesis Glycolysis Mitochondrial Pathways Silent Running Exercises CHAPTER 14 PLANTS AND ANIMALS COMPARED Differentiation Tissues of Animals Organs of Animals Organ Systems in Animals From Organs to Tissues in Plants The Day of the Triffids Exercises CHAPTER 15 MULTICELLULARITY AND IMMUNITY Multicellularity Cell Adhesion Molecules Histocompatibility Immunity Fantastic Voyage Exercises CHAPTER 16 EVOLUTION Environments and Prevailing Organisms Change Natural Selection by Survival of the Fittest Adaptation and Speciation Homologies, Development, and Vestigial Structures Planet of the Apes Extinction Biodiversity Jurassic Park Exercises

11 Contents xi FILM DESCRIPTIONS FILMS WITH LITERARY COMMENTARY : A Space Odyssey : The Year We Make Contact The Andromeda Strain Blade Runner Colossus: The Forbin Project Contact The Day of the Triffids The Day the Earth Caught Fire The Day the Earth Stood Still Fantastic Voyage Forbidden Planet Hangar Them! The Thing (1951 version) The Time Machine Total Recall FILMS WITHOUT LITERARY COMMENTARY The Abyss The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai After the Warming Aliens Star Trek: Arena The Arrival The Black Hole The China Syndrome Deep Impact The Empire Strikes Back The Fly (1986) Version Independence Day Jurassic Park Meteor The Peacemaker Phase IV Planet of the Apes (1968) Version Planet of the Apes (2001) Version The Production and Decay of Strange Particles (The Outer Limits) Silent Running Star Trek: The Next Generation A Matter of Time Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Star Wars Superman Terminator 2: Judgment Day Zardoz INDEX

12 Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank Rose Tatlow and Jennifer Steinberg for writing a number of the film descriptions and for editorial assistance in preparing the final draft of the manuscript. The authors also are indebted to Marjorie Mendelson for manuscript typing and editing. Finally, the authors are grateful to Robert Singer for drawing all of the illustrations. The still photographs were provided by the Museum of Modern Art/Film Still Archives, and by Photofest, courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures, Columbia Pictures Live Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Universal City Studios, Ladd Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, RKO, 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Universal International, and Warner Brothers. The authors wish to thank Teachers College Press for permission to reprint the film descriptions of Forbidden Planet, The Day the Earth Caught Fire, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Day of the Triffids, Them!, The Andromeda Strain, and Colossus: The Forbin Project. These film descriptions first appeared in Science in Cinema: Teaching Science Fact Through Science Fiction Films by Leroy W. Dubeck, Suzanne E. Moshier, and Judith E. Boss, published by Teachers College Press of Columbia University, New York, copyright All rights reserved. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. USE Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors are grateful to Temple University for providing support in establishing a Web site for Fantastic Voyages and for hosting the Web site. xiii

13 Introduction Do you relish science fiction films but do not have quite the same feeling about science? If so, this book was written with you in mind. We, the authors, are college professors who also happen to love science fiction films. Because of our scientific expertise, we can get even more enjoyment from screening science fiction films than the average viewer because we understand what is possible or what is truly out of this world in the universes portrayed on film. After reading this book and working through the exercises at the end of each chapter, you will get more out of screening science fiction films you will have a deeper understanding of the scientific principles presented in the films and probably a new respect for those filmmakers who depict science fiction that is close to science fact. The goal of this book is to provide basic physics and biology instruction, using scenes from science fiction films as examples of the concepts discussed. Your instructor will most likely use clips from the films to illustrate a scientific principle, and you will probably find that seeing a portrayal of a scientific principle (or of a principle s violation) helps you to understand a concept better than more traditional methods of classroom instruction. Furthermore, by watching films you will get a better feel for how different fields of science interact rarely does a film deal with physics only and not for example, biology, astronomy, or the social sciences. We hope that you will come to enjoy both science and science fiction films as much as we do. (Even if you have to forgo the popcorn!) How to Use This Textbook In the Contents we list the page numbers of films discussed in the textbook. Films are also listed in the index. This book is divided into three sections. The first section discusses basic physics and astronomy for nonscience majors. The second is devoted to selected topics in biology. The third section of this book gives detailed plot descriptions of 42 films which are referenced in the physics and/or biology sections. The first 16 of these films also have sections describing relevant science fiction literature, which may be used in conjunction with a given film and the related physics, astronomy, or biology material. At each point in the physics/astronomy section at which a film is introduced to illustrate a concept or its violation, the running time is given at which the refxv

14 xvi Introduction erenced segment of that film begins. For example, in Chapter One, The Andromeda Strain is referenced. The introduction to the film segment describing the attempt to determine the size of the alien organism is followed by (69 min). This means that the film segment starts 69 min after the film commences. One can precisely locate the starting point of a given film segment by using a VCR or DVD player that indicates the running time of the film at any point on the tape. Alternatively, one can estimate the position on the tape at which the segment commences by taking the ratio of the running time at which the segment commences to the total running time of the film. For example, if the segment commences at 60 min and the running time of the entire film is 120 min, one needs to fast forward the tape until 50% of it has elapsed. In the biology section, the films utilized normally relate to a number of biological topics. These films are therefore introduced at the conclusion of each chapter rather than appearing throughout the chapter. Running times are usually not given for film segments since several segments of the film are often related to the material in the chapter. A number of exercises and discussion questions are presented at the end of each chapter. Many of the films are used in both the physics/astronomy section and the biology section. These films demonstrate the inherent interdisciplinary nature of science. Readers who are interested in any updates of the book for new films should periodically check the Springer Web catalog entry for the book.