Physics in Art

This App has been developed to demonstrate how physics principles can be found everywhere, even in an art museum. Several pieces of art currently found in the Philadelphia Museum of Art are examined closely. Some background material on each piece is given. Using interactive animations and video segments, physics principles associated with each object are explored:
• The Diana Statue is used to demonstrate Newton’s Third Law.
• Several famous paintings are used to explain how we see color.
• The huge Calder mobile is used to teach rotational equilibrium.
• Swords from the Arms and Armor collection illustrate the importance of the location of the Center of Mass when wielding a weapon.
This project has been funded by Subaru of America and developed by Drexel University in collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art.