Wizards, Aliens, and Starships : Physics and Math in Fantasy and Science Fiction

From teleportation and space elevators to alien contact and interstellar travel, science fiction and fantasy writers have come up with some brilliant and innovative ideas. Yet how plausible are these ideas--for instance, could Mr. Weasley's flying car in the Harry Potter books really exist? Which concepts might actually happen, and which ones wouldn’t work at all? __Wizards, Aliens, and Starships__ delves into the most extraordinary details in science fiction and fantasy--such as time warps, shape changing, rocket launches, and illumination by floating candle--and shows readers the physics and math behind the phenomena. With simple mathematical models, and in most cases using no more than high school algebra, Charles Adler ranges across a plethora of remarkable imaginings, from the works of Ursula K. Le Guin to __Star Trek__ and __Avatar__, to explore what might become reality. Adler explains why fantasy in the Harry Potter and Dresden Files novels cannot adhere strictly to scientific laws, and when magic might make scientific sense in the muggle world. He examines space travel and wonders why it isn’t cheaper and more common today. Adler also discusses exoplanets and how the search for alien life has shifted from radio communications to space-based telescopes. He concludes by investigating the future survival of humanity and other intelligent races. Throughout, he cites an abundance of science fiction and fantasy authors, and includes concise descriptions of stories as well as an appendix on Newton's laws of motion. __Wizards, Aliens, and Starships__ will speak to anyone wanting to know about the correct--and incorrect--science of science fiction and fantasy. From Teleportation And Space Elevators To Alien Contact And Interstellar Travel, Science Fiction And Fantasy Writers Have Come Up With Some Brilliant And Innovative Ideas. Yet How Plausible Are These Ideas--for Instance, Could Mr. Weasley's Flying Car In Harry Potter Really Exist? Which Concepts Might Actually Happen--and Which Ones Wouldn't Work At All? Wizards, Aliens, And Starships Delves Into The Most Extraordinary Details In Science Fiction And Fantasy--such As Time Warps, Shape Changing, Rocket Launches, And Illumination By Floating Candle--and Shows Readers The Physics And Math Behind The Phenomena. With Simple Mathematical Models, And In Most Cases Using No More Than High School Algebra, Charles Adler Ranges Across A Plethora Of Remarkable Imaginings, From The Works Of Ursula K. Le Guin To Star Trek And Avatar, To Explore What Might Become Reality. Adler Explains Why Fantasy In The Harry Potter And Dresden Files Novels Cannot Adhere Strictly To Scientific Laws, And When Magic Might Make Scientific Sense In The Muggle World. He Examines Space Travel And Wonders Why It Isn't Cheaper And More Common Today. Adler Also Discusses Exoplanets And How The Search For Alien Life Has Shifted From Radio Communications To Space-based Telescopes. He Concludes By Investigating The Future Survival Of Humanity And Other Intelligent Races. Throughout, He Cites An Abundance Of Science Fiction And Fantasy Authors, And Includes Concise Descriptions Of Stories As Well As A Glossary Of Science Terms. Wizards, Aliens, And Starships Will Speak To Anyone Wanting To Know About The Correct--and Incorrect--science Of Science Fiction And Fantasy-- Playing The Game -- I. Potter Physics -- Harry Potter And The Great Conservation Laws -- Why Hogwarts Is So Dark -- Fantastic Beasts And How To Disprove Them -- Ii. Space Travel -- Why Computers Get Better And Cars Can't (much) -- Vacations In Space -- Space Colonies -- The Space Elevator -- Manned Interplanetary Travel -- Advanced Propulsion Systems -- Speculative Propulsion Systems -- Interstellar Travel And Relativity -- Faster Than Light Travel And Time Travel -- Iii. Worlds And Aliens -- Designing A Habitable Planet -- The Scientific Search For Spock -- The Mathematics Of Talking With Aliens -- Iv. Year Googol -- The Short-term Survival Of Humanity -- World-building -- Dyson Spheres And Ringworlds -- Advanced Civilizations And The Kardashev Scale -- A Googol Years. Charles L. Adler. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 359-369) And Index. Explaining the science behind science fiction and fantasy—from the probable to the impossible From teleportation and space elevators to alien contact and interstellar travel, science fiction and fantasy writers have come up with some brilliant and innovative ideas. Yet how plausible are these ideas—for instance, could Mr. Weasley's flying car in the Harry Potter books really exist? Which concepts might actually happen, and which ones wouldn't work at all? Wizards, Aliens, and Starships delves into the most extraordinary details in science fiction and fantasy—such as time warps, shape changing, rocket launches, and illumination by floating candle—and shows readers the physics and math behind the phenomena. With simple mathematical models, and in most cases using no more than high school algebra, Charles Adler ranges across a plethora of remarkable imaginings, from the works of Ursula K. Le Guin to Star Trek and Avatar , to explore what might become reality. Adler explains why fantasy in the Harry Potter and Dresden Files novels cannot adhere strictly to scientific laws, and when magic might make scientific sense in the muggle world. He examines space travel and wonders why it isn't cheaper and more common today. Adler also discusses exoplanets and how the search for alien life has shifted from radio communications to space-based telescopes. He concludes by investigating the future survival of humanity and other intelligent races. Throughout, he cites an abundance of science fiction and fantasy authors, and includes concise descriptions of stories as well as an appendix on Newton's laws of motion. Wizards, Aliens, and Starships will speak to anyone wanting to know about the correct—and incorrect—science of science fiction and fantasy. CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE. PLAYING THE GAME I. POTTER PHYSICS CHAPTER TWO. HARRY POTTER AND THE GREAT CONSERVATION LAWS CHAPTER THREE. WHY HOGWARTS IS SO DARK CHAPTER FOUR. FANTASTIC BEASTS AND HOW TO DISPROVE THEM II. SPACE TRAVEL CHAPTER FIVE. WHY COMPUTERS GET BETTER AND CARS CAN’T (MUCH) CHAPTER SIX. VACATIONS IN SPACE CHAPTER SEVEN. SPACE COLONIES CHAPTER EIGHT. THE SPACE ELEVATOR CHAPTER NINE. MANNED INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL CHAPTER TEN. ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS CHAPTER ELEVEN. SPECULATIVE PROPULSION SYSTEMS CHAPTER TWELVE. INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL AND RELATIVITY CHAPTER THIRTEEN FASTER-THAN-LIGHT TRAVEL AND TIME TRAVEL. III. WORLDS AND ALIENS CHAPTER FOURTEEN. DESIGNING A HABITABLE PLANET CHAPTER FIFTEEN. THE SCIENTIFIC SEARCH FOR SPOCK CHAPTER SIXTEEN. THE MATHEMATICS OF TALKING WITH ALIENS IV. YEAR GOOGOL CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. THE SHORT-TERM SURVIVAL OF HUMANITY CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. WORLD-BUILDING CHAPTER NINETEEN. DYSON SPHERES AND RINGWORLDS CHAPTER TWENTY. ADVANCED CIVILIZATIONS AND THE KARDASHEV SCALE CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. A GOOGOL YEARS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS APPENDIX: NEWTON’S THREE LAWS OF MOTION BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX