Relativity and Warp Drive
Just how do you travel faster than the speed of light?
Space Hoppers
Duration: 2:28
Views: 613
This film aims to simply describe how the engines on starships in popular television series work, using Einstein’s general theory of relativity. We used stop motion animation and a variety of different settings for the filming.
I like this film — it’s ambitious, well-constructed, uses a wide range of techniques to good effect, and is just a little bit whimsically ridiculous. Plus ‘Not a real captain’ cracks me up, every time.
We had several films last year that were rather ‘stagey’. Stylistically, they were holdovers from the Institute of Physics’ previous ‘Paperclip Physics’ competition. They were fine as little presentations, but they didn’t really work as films.
This film moves the style on considerably, working with the medium rather than against it. The team aren’t alone in doing that, and now you can start seeing each others’ ideas it’ll be interesting to see how the approach develops next year.
— Jonathan
I love this film - its just fantastic - the use of apparatus was ingenious. Congratulations on a superb, award-winning film!
Mr Man, 25 Oct 2009
In the very short time available you were able to to demonstrate one of the key areas of relativity.Well done and keep broadening those horizones!
R.G., 19 Jun 2009
Excellent, especially the cloth over the dustbin and the piece of black paper. Thanks for putting it up!
Helen, 09 Mar 2009
Really interesting! A great way of making physics exciting and accessible.
Bob, 26 Feb 2009
How does a ship mass that much energy though :P
Ben, 18 Feb 2009
Wow! - that's pretty incredible...I have most certainly learnt something new today! Thank You.
Mike, 10 Feb 2009
Great film! I was worried I wouldn't understand,but it was clear and made a lot of sense,well done!
Carrie, 04 Feb 2009
It was Awesome! The best I have seen so far!!
Michael Ladhams, 04 Feb 2009
Really good and intresting!!
Ryan, 03 Feb 2009
Haha
Steff, 03 Feb 2009
Amazing video, this very easily and neatly demonstrates general relativity.
Good work.
Sam, 03 Feb 2009
It all seems so simple. Let's build one right now. Where can we get dilithium crystals?
Keith, 27 Jan 2009
I wasn't expecting this to make sense to me. Explaining Warp Drive in 2:30? Incredible! Well done.
Elin, 21 Jan 2009