Introductory Superhuman Physics, Period 4 [9-16]
"Good afternoon," Jean-Paul announced. "Housekeeping: your syllabus is on your desk. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. I will be holding office hours on Wednesdays if you would like to speak to me more privately about anything. Now." He clapped his hands together enthusiastically. "Down to business. Today's topic: Flight. No wings. Flight with wings will be next week, and if any of you have wings I have not noticed yet, please speak to me after class or in my office hours. Or if you know someone with wings who might be willing to provide a practical demonstration, please send them my way. Additionally, lest you think I am quite mad for suggesting one of you might have wings I have not noticed, I know a man with a twenty-foot wingspan who can fold them down to be unseen under a suit jacket. But I digress.
"Last week we discussed gravity. Gravity is critical. It keeps the Earth in orbit, and keeps us all from flying off into space by simple dint of jumping." Jean-Paul, whose feet were on the ground for once, jumped up once and came back down to demonstrate. "To work against gravity, most people must exert force via their muscles. And yet..." he slowly rose until his feet were a good two feet off the ground. "I, and some of you, can act against gravity by doing this. Your assignment for the day is to break up into groups and discuss how this is possible. There are no wrong answers; scientists have been arguing over this for years. However, do please try to use logic and what you know of physics in formulating your hypotheses."
"Last week we discussed gravity. Gravity is critical. It keeps the Earth in orbit, and keeps us all from flying off into space by simple dint of jumping." Jean-Paul, whose feet were on the ground for once, jumped up once and came back down to demonstrate. "To work against gravity, most people must exert force via their muscles. And yet..." he slowly rose until his feet were a good two feet off the ground. "I, and some of you, can act against gravity by doing this. Your assignment for the day is to break up into groups and discuss how this is possible. There are no wrong answers; scientists have been arguing over this for years. However, do please try to use logic and what you know of physics in formulating your hypotheses."