What Planet Is Super Mario World?

TL;DR

Super Mario World has gravity eight times stronger than Earth's.

Transcript

Super Mario can jump higher than a kangaroo on steroids, but how does he do that? And is there any real-life planet where you could jump like Mario? My name is Gabe, and this is "Space Time." [MUSIC PLAYING] So how can we understand Mario's crazy jumping ability? Let's start with how gravity affects motion, because that a huge effect on jumping. No... Read More

Key Insights

• Super Mario's jumping ability is analyzed by comparing it to gravitational forces on different planets, revealing that Mario's world has a much higher gravity than Earth.
• On Earth, an object in free fall accelerates at 9.8 meters per second squared, but Mario's world has a gravity of approximately 78 meters per second squared.
• Mario's jump height and time to apex were measured, showing he jumps about 3.5 meters high in 0.3 seconds, indicating a very high takeoff speed.
• The calculated gravity on Super Mario World is about eight times that of Earth's, suggesting Mario's immense leg strength rather than low gravity enables his jumps.
• Real-life planets with such high gravity are unlikely to have solid surfaces, making Super Mario World an improbable real planet.
• Gas giants and stars have the high gravitational forces seen in Mario's world, but they lack solid surfaces needed for Mario's platforming.
• The analysis concludes that a planet matching Super Mario World's characteristics does not exist in our solar system or known universe.
• The video encourages viewers to conduct their own experiments with Mario games to explore gravity and physics further.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the gravity on Super Mario World compared to Earth?

The gravity on Super Mario World is calculated to be around 78 meters per second squared, which is about eight times stronger than Earth's gravity. This higher gravity suggests that Mario's jumping ability is not due to low gravity but rather his superhuman leg strength.

Q: How is Mario's jump height measured in the video?

Mario's jump height is measured using Mario himself as a ruler. His official height is 1.55 meters. By marking the apex of his jump and using this height, it was found that he jumps about 3.5 meters high, indicating a significant takeoff speed.

Q: Why is Super Mario World unlikely to exist in our solar system?

Super Mario World is unlikely to exist in our solar system because all major rocky bodies have smaller g values than Earth, and gas giants, which could have higher gravity, lack solid surfaces. Thus, a planet with Mario's world's gravity and solid surface is improbable.

Q: What factors determine the gravity on a planet?

The gravity on a planet is determined by its mass and radius. The formula used in the video compares these to Earth's mass and radius, showing that higher gravity typically occurs on larger bodies like gas giants, which lack solid surfaces.

Q: How does Mario's takeoff speed compare to Earth's conditions?

If Mario were on Earth, his takeoff speed would be over 50 miles per hour, allowing him to jump about 28 meters high. This means he could easily surpass obstacles like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, highlighting his extraordinary jumping ability.

Q: What does the video suggest about Mario's physiology?

The video suggests that Mario's physiology is highly unrealistic for a human. On a planet with eight times Earth's gravity, a human's heart could not pump blood effectively, meaning an actual person would likely be unconscious or dead.

Q: What real-life objects have similar gravity to Super Mario World?

Real-life objects with similar gravity to Super Mario World are likely to be stars or gas giants, as they have the necessary mass to produce such high gravity. However, they lack the solid surfaces needed for platforming like in Mario's world.

Q: What does the video encourage viewers to do?

The video encourages viewers to conduct their own experiments with Mario games to explore gravity and physics. It invites them to share findings, especially if they discover a game that mimics the gravity of any actual planet, fostering an engaging community discussion.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Super Mario's jumping ability is explored by examining gravitational forces. The analysis concludes that Mario's world has a gravity approximately eight times stronger than Earth's, suggesting superhuman leg strength rather than low gravity is responsible for his jumps.

• The video uses mathematical formulas to measure gravity in Super Mario World, revealing a g value of around 78 meters per second squared. This is much higher than Earth's gravity, indicating Mario's incredible jumping ability is due to his immense takeoff speed.

• Real planets with such high gravity are unlikely to have solid surfaces, making Super Mario World an improbable real planet. The video invites viewers to conduct their own experiments to explore gravity in video games further.