21 episodes

Reference Frames is a Physics podcast in which co-hosts Ian and Will seek to educate and entertain listeners about various Physics principles by using easy-to-understand popular media.Tweet at us with your Physics thoughts and questions! @PodcastFrames

Reference Frames Will Riihiluoma and Ian McKeag

    • Science
    • 5.0 • 6 Ratings

Reference Frames is a Physics podcast in which co-hosts Ian and Will seek to educate and entertain listeners about various Physics principles by using easy-to-understand popular media.Tweet at us with your Physics thoughts and questions! @PodcastFrames

    #21 Somewhere Under(standing) the Rainbow

    #21 Somewhere Under(standing) the Rainbow

    After her house lands on a witch somewhere over the rainbow, young Dorothy must walk the yellow brick road in her ruby slippers to the emerald city. Once there, she will turn away her blues by clicking her heels together and chanting "there's no place like home!" But how do these colors come into existence? That's the subject for learning in this episode of Reference Frames!

    Topics of Discussion
    Happy birthday?Andor AND Rings of Power (shocking)Dorothy's trip to OzColors!Will's a big fan of these chartsRods and cones!The color's Dorothy didn't see...Brown.Purple Earth?We get Mythbustersy and bust a myth!As always, contact us on Twitter @podcastframes or email us at referenceframespodcast@gmail.com

    • 41 min
    #20 2001: A Space Orbit

    #20 2001: A Space Orbit

    Everyone knows the famous horns of Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra thanks, primarily, to its presence in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. When used, the viewer is witnessing the advancement of technology -- from bone tools to satellites seemingly floating above the big blue ball called Earth. But Kubrick's vision of the future wasn't unfounded. The ships, floating effortlessly and motionless above Earth, are simply in orbit -- a physics principle that kept the astronauts of Apollo 8 from crashing into the moon, keeps the moon from crashing into the Earth,  and keeps Earth from crashing into the Sun. But how? That's what we dive into today!

    Topics Include
    It's fall, y'all!Third consecutive episode mentioning Rings of PowerBone tools, the invention of beat-downs, and imagery of satellitesOrbits: just falling too fast (or not fast enough, depending on your perspective)Cannonballs and thought experimentsWill's soon-to-be famous geography tiradeShutter Shades, LMFAO, and privacy screens for your computerWant to contact us? You can!
    @podcastframes
    referenceframespodcast@gmail.com

    • 41 min
    #19 Frodo's Refracting Falls

    #19 Frodo's Refracting Falls

    After being caught in Ithilien, Sam and Frodo are blindfolded and taken to the hidden refuge of Henneth Annûn to be questioned by Captain Faramir. Upon removing the blindfolds, Sam and Frodo are dazzled by a plethora of chromatics cascading from the The Window of Sunset. Will and Ian dive deep into the wondrous world of scattering sunlight and the beautiful colors contained within.

    Video on why light slows down in water
    Video on why light changes its direction of travel in water

    Topics Include
    Will's excitement for the new Lord of the Rings showIan's excitement to annoy his coworkersA vocal fold correction!A hidden refuge and a rainbow of lightThe Pink Floyd EffectHatchet by Gary PaulsenLord of the Flies by William GoldingRainbowsTwinkle twinkle little starString Theory and those silly physics typesGot a correction? Question? Contact us! 
    @podcastframes
    referenceframespodcast@gmail.com

    • 34 min
    #18 DISCLAIMER: DO NOT LICK FROZEN FLAGPOLES

    #18 DISCLAIMER: DO NOT LICK FROZEN FLAGPOLES

    When Flick is triple dog dared to touch his tongue to the frozen flagpole in his school's courtyard, it's his honor on the line. With his friends watching, he cautiously places his tongue on the pole, before realizing (a moment too late) that the warmth of his body is not enough to keep his saliva unfrozen and separate from the pole. In this episode we learn about temperature, in particular the phenomenon of conduction!

    Topics of Discussion:
    Apologies to MattDiscussions of DisclaimersAn update on some movies we've seenRalphie's Frozen Friends (and why Flick can't Let It Go)A Boy Named FlickConduction!Wetsuits!The return of the Ant Man (and the physics of Pym particles)Catch us out? Let us know! @podcastframes

    • 34 min
    #17 The Visual Suspects

    #17 The Visual Suspects

    Following a truck hijack in New York, five criminals are arrested and brought together for questioning. The men stare into bright lights and a bright mirror. Behind the mirror, officers stand in a dark room, judging the way they read the provided lines. but why can't the criminals see the police? And why can the police see the criminals? Today on Reference Frames, we talk about one-way mirrors!

    Discussion Topics
    The midsummer Reference Frames breakSword in the Stone vs Excalibur?The Usual SuspectsCar paint!Mirrors!Windows at nightWater on phonesShare your knowledge with your friends (and this podcast too)Tweet at us! @PodcastFrames

    • 33 min
    #16 Scott Lang Fights Mathematical Realities

    #16 Scott Lang Fights Mathematical Realities

    It takes a man like Paul Rudd to pull of Ant-Man. And it takes a team of quantum powered heroes to save the day via building shrinking and Pez-dispenser-growing powers. But there's a trick about changing the scale of an object -- and that's exactly what Will and Ian explore in this episode!

    Topics Include
    How great LOST isThe lore of Toy StoryA Star Wars fightAnt-Man and the Wasp and the Square-Cube LawIan's failure to come up with real life examplesAirships!Where do days, hours, and minutes come from?
    Interesting article going into detail on Square-Cube Law with respect to movies & TV

    Scientific American article on time

    • 34 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
6 Ratings

6 Ratings

postreets ,

Fun and creative

Blend of pop culture and physics to entertain while inform.

I'm confused plz help ,

Fun with Physics

Great to here a couple of Gusties talk Physics. As an Alumni and father of 3 Gusties (one who is also pursuing a PHD in Physics) it is great to hear you apply your knowledge to contemporary events. I would be interested in hearing you discuss the vulnerability of our electrical system to an EMP pulse (whether caused by a Solar Flare or nuclear detonation). Perhaps a discussion of the effects from the Carrington Effect from the mid 1800s and how more disastrous it would be today. I am sure there are are several modern science fiction movies that have addressed this issue

Anna and Will ,

Great, relatable podcast for understanding physics

I’ve only listened to the first episode so far, but I already feel like I will understand so much more of physics from listening to this! Plus, the hosts are just fun to listen to. I give this podcast 5 torque wrenches out of 5 torque wrenches— highly recommended!

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