You know you are a science geek when ...

[lionkingcmsl]

you ponder how Superman can move or stop a flying object when in mid-air.

Forget about how can he fly, but what is his reaction force when he pushes against the flying object when he is in mid-air?

He has no thrust, and he isn't "pushing" against something, so what is he using to counteract the forces of the object?

I know! I know! It is a comic and I should just accept it for what it is, but this one item has always bothered me, more than any other super power.

Comments

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

Imagine he controls the position of an invisible platform. It is only solid to his extraterrestrial body. So he can hold it steady and grab cars like he's standing on granite, because he is.

[sleepyjohn00.livejournal.com]

He stands there and three crooks shoot at him. They empty their guns. Bullets bounce off his chest. Then they throw the guns at him, and he ducks?!

[hossblacksilver.livejournal.com]

That's because while the bullets have more kinetic energy, the guns have more mass.

[thefoxaroo.livejournal.com]

Maybe superman has built-in intertial dampners?

[galish.livejournal.com]

I thought the given answer is that his body is so dense he can control his own gravity field. He pushes or pulls against the gravity field of earth with his own field.