Fun With Weights And Measures

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“Hang on a minute, lads,” says Michael Caine, “I’ve got a great idea.” Then nothing. 40 years after the world’s greatest cliffhanger was introduced the world (you know, the final scene in The Italian Job where the robbers van in dangling over the edge of the cliff, with the gold on one side and their safety on the other) the John Godwin of the Royal Society of Chemistry has worked out what that idea should’ve been and how the gang could’ve walked away with both. The Gaurdian has the full details after the jump. NOTE: Full disclosure, I read it three times and am still a wee bit confused.

Once you’ve wrapped your mind-grapes around that, take a stab at this: an analysis to determine the evolution of gravity in the Mario video game series as video game hardware increases as performed by the good people of Hypertextbook.

“We will find Mario’s acceleration due to gravity by using the formula s = s0 + v0t + Â½ at2 where s is the distance he falls, s0 is his initial distance, which is 0, v0 is his initial vertical velocity, which is also 0, a is his acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time it takes for him to fall. When we solve this formula for a, we get a = 2s / t2 …

“We determined that, generally speaking, the gravity in each Mario game, as game hardware has increased, is getting closer to the true value of gravity on earth of 9.8 m/s2. However, gravity, even on the newest consoles, is still extreme. According to Wikipedia, a typical person can withstand 5 g before losing consciousness, and all but the very latest of Mario games have gravity greater than this. Also, with gravity that great, it is a wonder Mario can perform such feats as leaping almost 5 times his own body height!”

And if that turns you on, there’s much more after the jump.

LINKS: Gaurdian and Hypertextbook. Thanks to Mike for sending it in.