Question about Superman: The Movie... (1 Viewer)

[Brian Harnish]

In the first Superman, Jor-El mentions that Kal-el has a dense molecular structure on Earth. If that is true, how is Superman able to fly? Wouldn't a dense molecular structure end up limiting Superman's ability to fly through the atmosphere? I'm looking for a scientifically-oriented explanation here.
EDIT: Perhaps I should have said: "PSEUDO-scientific explanation." I know science can't explain the rationale behind a fictional character like Superman, but it's fun to be pseudo-scientific about it.
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- Brian
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[Edited last by Brian Harnish on September 20, 2001 at 10:31 PM]

 

[Dome Vongvises]

I'm looking for a scientifically-oriented explanation here.

Good luck in your search.
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[Carl Johnson]

Even if molecular density made Superman weigh ten times that of your average human the power he got from the sun was enough to allow him to fly.

 

[Jeffrey Forner]

I don't think that Superman is the type of movie that worries too much about scientific explanations.
Sure, it's silly. Sure, it doesn't make sense from a reality standpoint. Does it need to? Not really. Superman is a fantasy, set in a world very much like our own. The same rules don't necessarily apply.
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[James D S]

I'm looking for a scientifically-oriented explanation here.

Where's the fun in that?
You realize that Superman is a comic. Stay with that fact and it will all become clear eventually...

 

[alan halvorson]

Although I am not certain about this, in the original Superman comic, Superman wasn't able to fly but only jump - at least that's what I read somewhere - I've never read the comic.
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[Edited last by alan halvorson on September 19, 2001 at 08:03 AM]

 

[BarryR]

It's a fantasy movie--forget it.

 

[Greg_Y]

Forget scientific believability, I wish Superman could turn time back and allow Richard Donner to make the films the way he wanted to, without 'help' from the Salkinds.
Superman: The Movie is great ... until the ending. He disobeys his father, pays NO penalty, and no attention is given to how he destroyed both missiles.

 

[Rain]

What ever happened to the good old fashioned notion of suspension of disbelief?
Please do not attempt to fly yourself, no matter how dense you might be.

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[Edited last by Rain on September 19, 2001 at 09:37 AM]

 

[Randall Z]

As we know anything with mass has a gravitational field. Most things we encounter on earth (except the earth itself) have a negligible gravity field. Superman's molecular structure is so dense that he has almost as much mass as the Earth, thus the gravitational field of the earth to him is negligible. This is what allows him to fly.
Or something like that.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

The dense molecular structure is what makes him invulnerable
Because his body is designed for much higher gravity, he can leap tall buildings in a single bound. How he flies is still a mystery

Yes, in the original comics he could only jump
Jeff Kleist

 

[Carlo_M]

Yes, yes, your answers are all well and good...
But could Wonder Woman conceive his child?

 

[TheBat]

i am not sure about that question.. but I think if Superman had sex with another krypton woman or something like that.. it would work.
JACOB
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[Matt_Stevens]

There was mention in a book how he would kill a human woman during intercourse, for reasons best left implied upon.
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[Duane Robinson]

What about artificial insemination, or in vitro fertilization? Do you think a child could be conceived with a human female using these methods? The only problem would be finding a container strong enough to withstand the force of Ol' Supes releasing his man sauce.
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[Kevin Leonard]

Yes, yes, we've all seen Mallrats.

Now let's get down to the important question: does Superman wash his costume? And if so, does he use hot or cold water?
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[Jeff Kleist]

I've always wondered about why he has to take off his clothes the first time, but they magically vanish when he dives out the window? Heck of air friction you have there
Hmm, even though the costume is impervious to bullets and fire, is it colorfast? That's a good question

Jeff Kleist

 

[Inspector Hammer!]

O.k. Brian now pay attention...
y5rbgfhy7--=090`kh';y]]tu is equal to 65ngh';[]ierij67=`1 over 67uymgb../[=-42` and is divisable by 46hhyy=-``1';./87jmgf but the property of 56ngtuyu[]]0-=`j is less then that of 65ngujujh][-=7`?jnu68, and the subatomic weight of 786jhn0h[[-`mm/.:ut=8%. However, 76u-9=`/[] is only half of 765=0-`i']\t909=`7%, making it i458950u]]0-=9-=.. of the subatomic region of 868----=][`42-%^3#.
And THATS how Superman can fly, see, it's not so hard.

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[Edited last by John Williamson on September 20, 2001 at 02:09 PM]

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

John, you made a slight mis-calculation, there... 'i458950u]]0-=9-=..' should be 'i[458950u]0-=9-=..'

Superman: The Movie is great ... until the ending. He disobeys his father, pays NO penalty, and no attention is given to how he destroyed both missiles.

I found that to be the most powerful part. All this time, he's playing by the rules of a man dead for decades (or centuries, depending on who you believe

. Finally, when hit comes to punch, he follows the advice of the man who raised him over the advice of the man who saved him. It shows that he has made the final step into embracing humanity. The fact the he payed NO penalty is a key part. It shows that the old man from a dead world no longer has any power. We probably would have seen this expanded upon, had Donner gotten to helm Superman II.
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[Neil S. Bulk]

There was mention in a book how he would kill a human woman during intercourse, for reasons best left implied upon.

I bet he's certainly, "more powerful than a locomotive". Let's hope for Lois' sake though that he's not "faster than a speeding bullet".

Neil
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