The Harsh Reality of Super Speed: More Physics Than Fantasy

Super speed, the ability to move faster than the blink of an eye, is a captivating superpower. But how realistic is it? The truth is, achieving super speed in the real world comes with a brutal dose of physics that might make you rethink wanting it.

The Perils of Sheer Velocity

Imagine running at 25,000 miles per hour, the speed attained during the Apollo 10 mission. Sounds incredible, right? Here's why it's a terrible idea:

• Friction Burns: Air isn't empty. Oxygen, nitrogen, and dust particles create friction as you move through them. At super speed, this friction generates extreme heat, enough to burn your face off.
• High-Speed Abrasion: Even if you survive the heat, those tiny dust particles become like microscopic bullets, scraping your skin with millions of cuts.
• Bugsplat Apocalypse: Remember the front of a truck after a long drive? Now imagine that happening to your face and eyes, but amplified exponentially.

The Reaction Time Problem

Even with a mask, you're still in trouble. Our reaction time is about one-fifth of a second. At 25,000 miles per hour, that means:

• You'll travel 1.4 miles before you can react to anything you see.
• You'll either crash into the nearest wall or turn yourself into a human missile, destroying everything in your path.

The Inertia Factor: Why Saving the Day Could Be Deadly

What about short bursts of speed to save someone? Think again. Newton's First Law of Motion, inertia, comes into play.

• Inertia's Impact: Inertia is the resistance to a change in motion. When you grab someone at super speed, their body goes from zero to thousands of miles per hour in seconds.
• Brain Trauma: The sudden acceleration would cause their brain to slam against their skull, turning it into mush. The rapid deceleration would do the same, but in the opposite direction.
• The Space Shuttle Effect: You've essentially run them over with a space shuttle. It's not the speed itself, but the rapid acceleration and deceleration that causes catastrophic internal damage.

Superhero Insurance: A Costly Necessity

Super speed, without extreme control and durability, is a recipe for disaster. Doctors need liability insurance; imagine how much a superhero insurance policy would cost, especially with the potential for accidental manslaughter!

While super speed is a cool concept, the laws of physics make it a dangerous and potentially lethal ability. Perhaps some superpowers are best left in the realm of fiction.