Movie physics can provide a bonanza of enrichment activities for both high school physics students and first year physics students in college. These generally require nothing more than a VCR and stopwatch. Some movie scenes provide examples of good physics and others bad physics but all can be analyzed and used as topics of discussion. When the physics are so bad they're downright ugly, the real fun begins. Not only can ugly physics be analyzed, but they can be mercilessly ripped apart.

For example, the AP Physics classes at Kentridge HS in Kent, Washington has reviewed a number of movies as a class project. Teacher Tom Robinson describes it as "...a fun and worthwhile project for us to do—I'll probably do it again!"

Movie physics analysis can be used to augment and add variety to lab experiences. To use movie physics in this manner, first play the desired scene on a VCR or DVD player. Next explain how data is to be collected and evaluated. Replay the scene as needed. Most scenes are only a few minutes long and have to be played several times to collect data. The data is then analyzed and used in calculations. End with a class discussion. Intuitor has provided a list of movie scenes below along with classroom movie-minilab sheets for a number of movies in the list. Click on the movie-minilab link under the Classroom Activity heading. We have listed a major physics category illustrated by the scene and have ranked the scene's physics quality: good, bad, or ugly. If we have reviewed and rated the entire movie there is a link to the review under the movie's name.

In most cases a DVD player is superior to a VCR, providing it's the type which can play one frame at a time. In this case, even relatively high-speed movie physics can be analyzed.

Check back often since we will be constantly updating the list.

Please note that all movie-minilab sheets are copyrighted and are the exclusive property of Intuitor. They cannot be sold or published in any medium, electronic or conventional, without the written permission of Intuitor. However, teachers, students, and homeschoolers can download and reproduce unlimited free copies for legitimate classroom or home school purposes.