Rio Americano High School Physics
Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote

Physics Analysis of Vignettes in Two Video Collections

Scrapes of Wrath Crash Course Phyz Page
SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW5 CC1 CC2 CC3 CC4. CC5


Road Runner cartoons can easily and meaningfully be worked into the physics and physical science curriculum. Many vignettes involve fairly direct misrepresentations of specific physical principles. I developed the table below for my own use in deciding which clips to show and when. The two compilation videos are still in print as far as I know. I hope you find the information useful. (An asterisk denotes a particularly useful cartoon or vignette.)

SCRAPES OF WRATH (Warner Home Video 12427) ISBN 0-7907-1255-5
SW1. WHOA BE GONE*
1. Missile
2. Cliff Projectile Motion
3. See Saw* Inertia, Friction
4. Rifle Freefall
5. Giant Rubber Band* Elastic Potential Energy
6. Dynamite Barrel Freefall
7. Wheel Helmet (my fave) Tension, Equilibrium
8. Bridge
9. Tornado Seeds
   
SW2. GUIDED MUSCLE*
1. Dinner Chase
2. Arrow Nose* Equilibrium, Inertia, Newton III
3. Slingshot
4. Cannon* Newton III / Cons of Mom
5. Pendulum Pendulum
6. Ball Run* Energy (PE increases!)
7. Grease Friction, Inertia
8. Vine Swing
9. TNT
10. Tar N Feather
11. Fuse Run
SW3. BUGS BUNNY in RABBIT'S FEAT
No real physics-y stuff here.
SW4. STOP! LOOK! AND HASTEN!
1. Lunch / Chase
2. Boulder Drop
3. Lair
4. Burmese Tiger Trap
5. Steel Wall
6. Railroad Chase
7. TNT
8. Motorcycle
9. Saw Bridge Weight? Reality?
10. Leg Muscle Vitamins
SW5. HOPALONG CASUALTY
1. Telephone pole Inertia, Elastic Potential Energy, Freefall
2. Truck
3. Rock
4. TNT
5. Packing Machine
6. Cactus TNT Tension
7. Earthquake Pills


CRASH COURSE (Warner Home Video 12948) ISBN 0-7907-1804-9
CC1. GOING! GOING! GOSH!
1. Chase
2. TNT Arrow
3. Slingshot Friction, Elastic Potential Energy
4. Cement
5. Grenade
6. Hitch Hike
7. Painting
8. Boulder Roll Inertia, Circular Motion, Energy
9. Anvil Balloon* Net Force, Drag, Newton III
10. Tether Spear
CC2. READY, SET, ZOOM!
1. Opening Chase
2. Glue
3. Glue/Dynamite
4. Hollow Tree
5. Weight
6. Lariat
7. Slingshot
8. Wash Tub Mobile** Internal Force, Projectile
9. Rocket
10. Female Road Runner
CC3. THERE THEY GO GO GO
1. Dinner / Burn "water-witching!"
2. Spear
3. Pistol Spring
4. Catapult Elastic Potential Energy
5. Spike Ball Go-Round Lift
6. Ladder Relative Motion
7. TNT Wheel
8. Missile
9. Rock Drop
CC4. HIP HIP HURRY
1. Chase / Bridge Projectile Motion
2. Grenade Elastic Potential Energy
3. Trapeze
4. TNT Wrist Rocket
5. Fuse Race
6. Boulder Fall* Drag, Freefall
7. Boat Falls No support, Net force not zero
8. High Speed Tonic (classic!)
CC5. SCRAMBLED ACHES*
1. Chase
2. Leg Trip
3. Sling
4. Fan Mobile** Internal Force
5. Rocket Inertia
6. Boulder See Saw
7. Anvil Net force not zero
8. Spring Launch Inertia
9. Dehydrated Boulders "geology"
10. Outboard Steamroller* Inertia, Projectile



Comments? Suggestions? Rants? Raves? E-mail me at dbaird@mac.com
Revised August 1998 by Dean Baird