Movies come in different packages from action to drama series. They create a relaxing atmosphere whenever you take the time to watch them. Also, movies create memories in our minds that stick for some time. Different films gloom our memories with what happened in the ancient days among other lessons.
Among many movies in this world, there are those that explain scientific phenomena. They help you understand what happened for something to exist. They explain the nature of the universe. For instance, physics movies are one kind of spectrum that explains the science behind what revolves around life.
When you feel you need to catch a breath as a physics student, you can grasp such moments and watch one of the films. On weekends when you have a lot of free time, take an hour or two and watch one of the physics movies. It helps you to better understand some physics concepts.
Movies that Present Physics Lessons
1. The theory of everything
It is a romantic physics movie of a great physicist, Stephen Hawking, and his wife. The film explains the challenges that Dr. Hawking faced while developing his impacting theories such as Hawking radiation.
The film is about the journey of Stephen and his wife who meet at the University of Cambridge and get married. In his university thesis presentation, Hawking argues that a black hole created the universe in a Big Bang which he later developed.
As a physics student, the movie is not only dramatic but also educative. Have some time and watch because it ignites your love for physics more. Moreover, the movie has received numerous rewards, including an Oscar, besides five nominations among others.
2. Particles Fever
Particles Fever? What does it entail? You might be a bit skeptical because of the title but wait. The filmmakers have made it interesting even for those who have no taste towards sciences. It reveals the mysteries of the universe.
Particle Fever is a documentary that involves six brilliant scientists who collaborated with other scientists on the planet. The gurus during the launch of the Large Hadron Collider put their efforts together to re-create conditions from the big-bang theory to investigate the origin of all matter.
The thrilling movie allows you to understand the theories behind the formation of solid, liquid, and gases. Go to Netflix and you can watch the physics movie at the comfort of your home. You will have an easy time at your JC physics tuition because you already have a clue.
3. The Martian
Martian is a film based on the debut novel by Andy Weir. The physics movie tells a story of a crew who go for a mission in the Mars planet. Due to a dangerous storm, they encounter in their journey, one astronaut is injured and left all alone.
But as a man, Matt Damon has to find a way to survive and rescue himself. Through the limited resources available at hand, the man has to find a survival way using scientific ways until the next Mars mission to be rescued. On the other side, his fellows are planning a daring attempt to bring him back.
The movie continues on how ‘the martin’ devised ways to grow potatoes in a land that brings forth nothing. It is such an interesting movie that reveals the science of nature in the universe. Equip your mind with its content and understand the universe more.
4. Gravity
Just as the name suggests, gravity is a physics movie about two astronauts in space. a brilliant medical engineer, Sandra Bullock, and her friend George Clooney, a veteran astronaut gets stranded in space. They are to work together so as to survive after the accident in their shuttle mission.
The accident only leaves the two surviving, killing the rest of the crew. The two have to think about what they can do to get to another satellite with whatever equipment they have at hand and finally land on earth.
The two warriors start a survival mission in the isolated space. They have to invent ways to keep their oxygen supply flowing or otherwise they kick the bucket. The movie reveals the science behind gravity in a thrilling manner that makes you want to watch more physics movies.
5. The Abyss
The Abyss is a fiction move released back in 1989 through the direction of James Cameron. It features characters like Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. The physics movie is about an American submarine that sinks in the sea.
A team of underwater oil rig is charged with the role to rescue the American nuclear from the deep-sea water. During the rescue mission, they discover a mysterious and strange force living in the deep sea. As a result, the mission becomes a discovery of the unknown.
Through the film, the team adventures the wonders of deep-sea waters like the encounter with a tentacle- a creature made of water and moves like a snake. If you want to understand the mystery under the seawater, the Abyss is the movie to watch.
6. Einstein and Eddington
Wondering what is behind the theory of relativity and how it was introduced to the world? watch Einstein and Eddington’s movie. It brings out the relationship between the two physics legendries and how they introduced the theory of relativity during the great war.
Eddington is appointed to research and defend Einstein’s work which doesn’t agree with the Newtonian theory. During the research, they find that Einstein’s work agrees with Mercury’s orbit and finally his thesis is approved.
Don’t perceive the theory of general relativity as difficult to understand, watch the physics movie and you can connect the dots in between. With this knowledge, even your physics tutor won’t have a hard time taking you through the concept.
7. Infinity
Infinity is a physics film telling a story of Richard P. Feynman and his wife Arlene Greenbaum. The man died due to tuberculosis while he worked on Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. Richard Feynman is a phenomenal person in physics and he won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1965.
Although the movie focuses mostly on Richard and his wife’s journey until he died, it brings him out as a great physicist of the days. It inspires many physics students who want to become physics stars in the future.
8. Apollo 13
It is a great physics movie about a mission to the moon. Astronaut Jim Lovell together with other two colleagues have an accident during their visit in space. The three astronauts attempt to survive at space as scientists and engineers on earth find a way to rescue them.
The Hollywood drama explains the tension and numerous technical problems that face the three scientists. Their rescue journey upholds scientific integrity about how they managed to move from space to the earth’s atmosphere.
It is a journey of exploring the space and how humankind can survive there through inventing other scientific means. If you want to know the history of space travel, find this physics movie and watch it till the end. Also, imagine attending your physic tuition with such knowledge, it is pretty easy for you to understand.
9. I.Q.
The romantic comedy directed by Fred Schepisi features a great physicist, Albert Einstein. It reveals of a story between a mechanic and a Princeton doctoral student in love. The two love birds love each other at first sight.
However, Einstein, the girl’s uncle comes through to make their dreams true. The movie combines both drama and romance together. Have a super lit weekend with your buddies as you enjoy the I.Q. movie at your home.
10. October Sky
October Sky is an inspiring movie about a teenager who wants to venture into the space science through rocket invention. The miner’s son goes against his father’s wishes of becoming a miner like him. However, the boy becomes inspired by the first artificial satellite, Sputnik that went into orbit.
With the help of friends and local nerd, the boy tries to make a rocket but the trials fail. Their teacher in high school comes in and tells them they will be contenders in the national college fair with college scholarship as the prize. The gang has to bit all odds to make it.
The movie is a great inspiration for most physics students. It keeps them moving even when some physics concepts seem hard. Watch the movie and draw the inspiration from the young man.
11. A space odyssey
The 2001 movie reveals about space exploration by scientists. The film follows a voyage to Jupiter after the discovery of a strange monolith affecting human evolution. It is credited with a scientifically accurate depiction of space flight, ambiguous imagery, and special effects. Its production quality brings it out clear and you enjoy it while watching.
Physics movies play an important role in understanding some of the physics concepts. They fasten your memory to capture content in school or physics tuition centre. Create some time and watch these fun and educative films to help you understand physics in a better way. Make your weekends enjoyable by watching your favorite physics movies at home.