Outline of the Second Term Paper

Newton’s Third Law of Motion in Animation and Film

Introduction:

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. A pair of forces affect any two objects that interact. The size of the forces on the first object equals the size of the forces on the second object.

Thesis:

Newton’s Third Law of Motion is often ignored in animation and live-action CGI to service certain mechanics in the storyline and for dramatic effect.

Examples:

1. Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender creates powerful gusts of wind from his hands without being pushed backward.
2. Cyclops’s “optic blasts” from the X-Men movie franchise have no recoil.
3. Neo sends men flying across the room with a single kick in The Matrix Reloaded while being able to remain in place.

Example A: Avatar: The Last Airbender

• Brief description of storyline and the mechanics of “bending” the elements.
• Description of how airbending works specifically
• Explanation of how scene breaks Newton’s Third Law

Example B: X-Men

• Brief description of movie universe
• Explanation of Cyclops’s mutant superpower
• Optic blasts are a concussive force
• Dissection of individual scenes from example video clip
• Comparison to rocket launchers illustrating how optic blasts would work in real life

Example C: The Matrix: Reloaded

• Brief description of movie universe
• Description of fight scene mechanics within the context of the film’s universe
• Explanation of how scene breaks Newton’s Third Law
• Comparison to real world physics

Conclusion:

• Summarize Main Points
• Restate thesis