The Physics of Movie Monsters: The Cube Square Law

So what we have here:
Ever watch a cheesy movie and say "That monster is so FAKE!" but not really understand why? Well monstrous monsters are governed by a little biological rule called the Cube Square Law, a scientific term combining math, anatomy, and physics into one educational tool to recognize theatrical baloney when you see it. Here I explain the rule, how it works, and its ramifications for our favorite B-Movie pet monsters.

So,
I said with the last movie that that was going to be my last as I worked on a book. But, inspiration tells YOU what you're going to do, not the other way around. I'll still get around to the book (non-fiction) as soon as I settle down a bit more. In the meantime, I'm riding inspiration for all its worth. A movie at 8 minutes 45 sec? And to think this started as Part One of THREE. ;) I originally was going to include the perils of Shrink Power and Invisibility, two other Hollywood boo boos, but Cube Square proved to have more than enough material for a single movie. I've more or less given up trying to make a movie under 5 min anymore. Theres just too much fun to be had in letting loose. ;) Invisibility isn't off the hook yet though, and I may make a debunking movie of that in good time (it has a crippling problem if you think about it logically, but that'll be what my movie is for).

I'm likely to get real busy real quick, so who knows what the future holds. If I can make another one I will. These are fun for no other reason than the movie clips I get to scavenge my imagination for, and anyone with the knowledge of a cinematic Movie Master who can name 10 for 10 the monsters movies in my last montage can have a pat on the back, delivered by yourself. ;) Cheers.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• star
• trek
• dinosaur
• king
• kong
• wars
• hercules
• lord
• rings
• science
• jurassic
• park
• 50s
• horror
• scary

[nevermore1000]

An interesting thought is that this works in reverse as well. If humans were somehow to be shrunk down to the size of insects, we would be musclebound supermen endowed with preternatural strength, considering our small size.

[SpreadingtheMuse]

@nevermore1000

There's a whole batch of superheroes based on that. Marvel's Wasp, YellowJacket, and Ant Man to name a few all have "regular" strength, but shrunk down to bug size it makes them superpowered.

[silazcarbryck]

Would the square strength vs Cube weight not present a problem for a dinosuar No WAIT NO! I still haven't finished watching it yet. LOL! This guy can read my thoughts...

[xtcarnage15586]

but what if they have different proportions?

[shippem]

what about proportionality in increased size

[jackhuskey]

I recall a discussion with some friends about the squared/cubed law being applied to heat dissipation (skin, squared) vs heat production (internal volume/cubed) would result in mammalian monsters basicly cooking in thier own heat. Never covered insects & reptiles.

[isawman1]

@AceofDlamonds Yes I know that too.

[isawman1]

@AceofDlamonds YES I know there is constraint on land animals today,what I am saying is the enviroment has radically changed since the time of giants.

[AceofDlamonds]

@isawman1

and yet.....we KNOW that the largest tyrannosauroids and spinosaurids can reach near or exceed about 10 tons

the largest predators to ever walk the earth.

[AceofDlamonds]

@isawman1

actually, you are wrong, metabolism and body composition play roles as well.

If you've ever read, "A biomechanical constraint on body mass in terrestrial mammalian predators" (Sorkin 2008), which I doubt you've read, you can see the environmental and evolutionary pressures that limit terrestrial mammalian predators, let alone CARNIVORES, to just over 1 ton.

So you were saying??

[AceofDlamonds]

@isawman1

actually things like metabolism and body composition matter as well...

For instance........If you've ever read "A biomechanical constraint on body mass in terrestrial mammalian predators" (Sorkin 2008). which I highly doubt you have...it deals with environmental and evolutionary pressures that practically set the weight limit for terrestrial mammalian predators, or carnivores, for that matter, to just over 1 ton.

you were saying?

[isawman1]

@AceofDlamonds My point was based on a radically different envroment !!!! None of your other suggestions wash.