Analyzing the Correlation Between Student's Knowledge of Newton's Laws of Physics and Their Enjoyment of Watching Marvel Films

Authors

  • Tory Hur Henry M. Jackson High School
  • Kevin Kukla Henry M. Jackson High School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i1.4112

Keywords:

Physics, Marvel, Education, Science, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Scientific Literacy

Abstract

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has produced numerous worldwide box office hits such as Avengers: End Game, Avengers: Infinity Wars, and the Spiderman series. However, previous researchers discovered countless numbers of the feasibility of the physics within these films. The ongoing discussion among the scientific community led to the aim of my research: to examine if there exists a positive or negative correlation between a viewer’s knowledge of science, particularly Newton’s Laws, and their enjoyment of Marvel films, specifically superhero movies.

To determine the relationship between students’ scientific literacy and their enjoyment of watching Marvel films, I conducted two types of quantitative research: a pre-validated Half Force Concept Inventory test and a Two-Sample Independent t-Test conducted on 91 students in four AP Physics 1 classes in X High School. 

My study concluded that the correlation between the viewer’s knowledge of science, particularly Newton’s Laws, had no significant relationship with their enjoyment of watching Marvel films.

Downloads

References or Bibliography

Bergman, D. (2019, July). THE ’MARVEL’-OUS NATURE OF SCIENCE: Using superhero movies to teach methods and values in science. The Science Teacher. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A592039742/AONE?u=wash_main&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=16e9aa71

Buren, A. (n.d.). The Science and Fiction of the Multiverse. NWCommons. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://nwcommons.nwciowa.edu/celebrationofresearch/2021/researchprojects2021/13/

“Defining Critical Thinking.” (n.d.). The Foundation for Critical Thinking. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

Efthimiou, C. J. (2007, July 9). Hollywood Blockbusters: Unlimited Fun but Limited Science Literacy. arXiv.Org. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://arxiv.org/abs/0707.1167

Fitzgerald, B. W. (2018, April 5). Using Superheroes Such as Hawkeye, Wonder Woman and the Invisible Woman in the physics classroom. IOP Science. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6552/aab442

Gooden, K. (2020, January). SUPERHERO PHYSICS: Eighth Graders Learn Physics Concepts From Superhero-Inspired Lessons. Science Scope. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A610698171/PROF?u=wash_main&sid=bookmark-PROF&xid=6b6b4dc1

Newton’s laws of motion | Definition, Examples, & History. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com:443/science/Newtons-laws-of-motion

Maienschein, J. (1988, August 14). Scientific literacy. Gale Academic OneFile. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A21098169/AONE?u=anon~c6d96ac5&sid=googleScholar&xid=2a7353d4

Tatalovic, M. (2018, August 17). Science comics as tools for science education and communication: a brief, exploratory study. JCOM - The Journal of Science Communication. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://jcom.sissa.it/archive/08/04/Jcom0804(2009)A02

Technology Networks. (2022, February 21). Paired vs Unpaired T-Test: Differences, Assumptions and Hypotheses. Informatics from Technology Networks. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://www.technologynetworks.com/informatics/articles/paired-vs-unpaired-t-test-differences-assumptions-and-hypotheses-330826#:%7E:text=A%20paired%20t%2Dtest%20is%20designed%20to%20compare%20the%20means,is%20assumed%20to%20be%20equal

Two-Sample t-Test. (n.d.). Introduction to Statistics | JMP. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.jmp.com/en_us/statistics-knowledge-portal/t-test/two-sample-t-test.html#:%7E:text=The%20two%2Dsample%20t%2Dtest%20(also%20known%20as%20the,groups%20are%20equal%20or%20not

Westrup, H. (2002, October 25). Superhero science: what Spider-Man and other comic-book heroes can teach you about science. Gale Academic OneFile. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A93919432/AONE?u=wash_main&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=8cad64eb

Z. (2021, March 12). P-Value vs. Alpha: What’s the Difference? Statology. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.statology.org/p-value-vs-alpha/

Published

02-28-2023

How to Cite

Hur, T., & Kukla, K. (2023). Analyzing the Correlation Between Student’s Knowledge of Newton’s Laws of Physics and Their Enjoyment of Watching Marvel Films. Journal of Student Research, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i1.4112

Issue

Section

AP Capstone™ Research