Recently was asked to make a presentation on some math involved in a movie. I chose the Men In Black. The scene I selected was the part where the 2 are in the Queens tunnel and they go on the ceiling of the tunnel and continue to go at an unusual high speed on the ceiling and eventually get down and out. I would just like some insight on what kind of math I should present and how to present it. Also some basic "if it were" kind of questions. Thanks for any help.

mathematic equations of why going at a certain speed makes you seem to defy gravity

Somehow I think using a scifi movie - especially one where "alien technology" is used to get around physical limitations - to demonstrate physics principles is a bad idea.

 

Here are some examples of what NOT to try to explain in movies, using actual math and physics.

you've shown as that site before swansont, although it is very true!

 

I would just like some insight on what kind of math I should present and how to present it.

 

well there's little maths you can present mainly due to the fact that you cant ride on the ceiling in real life and therefore there's no maths to represent it.

 

presenting it is another matter... whatever you plan to present do it as a slideshow presentation or something! i think a bigger prob is WHAT you can put in it.

If you can I would illustrate how the car stays on the ceiling (which is completely plausible) using force vectors... I.e., a certain amount of force must be applied in the "z" or upward direction to make the car stay "stuck" to the ceiling and a certain amount must be applied horizontally to maintain speed. This would be accomplished by angling the direction of the thrust. Break the thrust vector into components and illustrate perhaps, how the upward component counteracts gravity and how the horizontal component produces the force necessary for the car to either accelerate or maintain a constant velocity.

however to keep the car on the ceiling you need a thrust upwards to counteract gravity, whilst this is possible in the movie it is a 'normal' car with no upwards (when you are upside down on ceiling it become downwards) thrust.