If superpowers were real: Super speed - Joy Lin

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/if-superpow...
What if super speed wasn't just the stuff of epic comic book stories? Is it scientifically possible to be super speedy? In this series, Joy Lin tackles six superpowers and reveals just how scientifically realistic they can be to us mere mortals.
Lesson by Joy Lin, animation by Cognitive Media.

[@aleale8320]

Flash: it's Speedforce, i ain't gotta explain sh**

[@maxdrags3115]

IKR LOL xD

[@whatamidoing8465]

+maxdrags3 How did you save her without knowing anything? Harrison Wells/the Writers of The Flash: "... Speed force...." Me: "Why's this car broken?" Wells: "...Speedforce.." WOW WELLS YOU SHOULD BE A TEACHER Student : "What's 4 + 4?" Mr. Wells : "Speedforce..."

[@fantasyconnect]

+Erica Wang (GamerStudios) To be honest, a speedforce powered monorail cart actually broke Daniel West's car sooooooooo yeah.

[@loklokyue]

lol

[@roguecreed241]

+Erica Wang (GamerStudios) LOL

[@BC21beats]

if you were capable of moving at that speed why wouldn't your reaction speed increase as well?

[@gamer_x403]

it still takes same amount of time to get signals from your eyes to your brains and then to your body parts.

[@BC21beats]

Gamer_X you would think if your body could fire signals fast enough so your arms and legs could move at light speed the same neurons should be able to fire fast enough to send the image to your brain

[@iamawsome0802]

A Tribe Called Quest I was thinking the same thing

[@ilanzatonski8826]

Your reaction time would increase. When you are getting closer to the speed of light time slows down, but you see things as normal

[@doquanhughes7824]

i said the same thing😂😂

[@rektrakboi3127]

“Face jail time” Like the cops could catch him

[@aditisk99]

Yep 😂😂

[@Marcopolo9]

Well, that's one way to crush a man's childhood dream ;-;

[@serialkiller6906]

marco polo I feel u

[@rishei4748]

this is why i disliked the video

[@arvo-noon]

200th like But it also ruins a girls current childhood dream whom is also in childhood.

[@Youniiik]

Well technically half of the stuff mentioned in the video would be incorrect, as, if your body can produce impulses fast enough to move you at such a speed, your reaction time would also increase, making it feel like time slowed down, allowing for quick reactions

[@amonguscharacter7623]

Don’t worry flashforce

[@xXRagingInfernoXx]

This can be solved easily -> Speed Force

[@torifort717]

Faster than instant travel! Because comic books!

[@typhoonzebra]

yep

[@saadmanalam7283]

the flash has the ability to lend his speed force temporarily to whomsoever he wishes. because of that, we don't have to worry about the girl getting hurt as in the video

[@happy4nerds178]

and Super Reflex!

[@Elliandr]

Saadman Alam unfortunately, the speed force doesn't extend to the girls clothing and it promptly burns off.

[@JManPepper]

logically super speed comes with super reaction time

[@maxdrags3115]

YEP

[@negrolegendario]

+JMan Pepper Like in the show the flash, barry reads like 10 books in 1 sec i mean its pretty obvious

[@JManPepper]

Ricky Fort the flash is obviously the best example of super speed so it's logical that he has the best rules

[@TrizoParzo]

+JMan Pepper Barry would need extra superpowers or he'd die.

[@fantasyconnect]

+JMan Pepper Nope, the best example of super speed is actually *spider-man* of all things, capable of reaching speeds over 200 mph on foot and having no defence against slamming into a wall apart from his spider sense.

[@aronsarmasi2368]

Fun fact, it's actually not friction with the air that heats up the space shuttle, but rather the air compressing in front of the shuttle. The shuttle is moving so fast that the air doesn't have time to move out of the way, and so it just gets compressed, and if you ever touch a bicycle pump after using it, you'll know that air heats up when compressed.

[@kaviyaj5901]

Well it depends on the speed that the object is moving in...if its FAST then it will just brush through the particle causing a drag and heat and stuffs but if its GOD SPEED FAST then it will be like a car hitting the wall and-what would happen if an atom collides with the other ?

[@ViniciusVetor]

@@kaviyaj5901 depends just if it's beyond the speed of sound to create the compressive zone. Below that speed you should also consider that the air also dissipates the heat, cooling the friction heating.

[@battlemage7793]

just because you can run that fast doesnt mean you have to all the time, just run 50 to 150 mph, with goggles!

[@jeffphilistin6431]

that fixes 90 percent of the problems he just said

[@derinko]

@@jeffphilistin6431 these kind of videos are so stupidly thought, most of the "problems" of having super speed are soooo easily solved

[@unlimitedbladeworks2067]

Problem: You wouldn't be able to automatically decelerate. You still have a lot of problems to deal with

[@chinomsookafor4564]

speedsters can see in slow mo. that fixes half of the problems you said there were with super speed.

[@silentmanthompson7788]

I agree with this statement!!!

[@dinfraram]

Agreed

[@austindrapen8959]

that's not really applying to this, sure, he should be taking these superpowers with exceptions made that things like this that come along are fixed by other more subtle powers, but, because he just said what if you had superspeed, so he didn't really have to include anything else, as the question in itself kind of excludes any other powers.

[@Xorem]

Besides u can use a super strong suit like flash'

[@lokeshbhaskar6622]

I think that would only solve problem of reaction time and Birds hitting , can't escape dust and heat due to friction without super strong fabric suit

[@ryan_leonard]

In the show the Flash, Barry has really fast reactions to everything along with his speed. He also has a suit that protects him from friction and stuff like small particles. This would have to make me choose speed out of all of these because it is the best in real life.

[@ryan_leonard]

Also, he barely ever runs a half of a thousand miles, not twenty-five thousand.

[@bwoy12345]

+Ryan Leonard Flash has the speed force which allows him to brake physics. Speed force does not exist in real life so he is not a good example .

[@ryan_leonard]

+bwoy12345 But there aren't really any good examples because super speed isn't real either.

[@unihong3657]

+Ryan Leonard The heat that is caused (mentioned in this video) would not only affect the runner, but also the surrounding people. So in theory, they would all be burned as the Flash ran past them. Also, the mess that the Flash creates while running would injure passerbys. So, alongside all the damage super speed does, I think it would do more harm than good in real life.

[@MrAdrian1203]

+Uni Hong you are quite wrong. The Flash IS a good example. Super speed DOES mean that "Speed Force" . You see ? In order to be called a "speedster" you must have all your body to work apropiatelly ,that means your brain doesn't do what the one of the girl in the video did and you have fast enough reaction (if not you could not do a second step,after the first one,think about it ;) ) => you can stop the bullet fast enough (you already have a suit that resists to the friction of running with 25thousand m/h right?) without even touching the victim and destroy the criminal like One Punch Man because you would create a sonic boom at the impact with his body. There is a problem though with the void of air that you create by running at that speed ,which will colapse and make everybody that you pass by to fall down ,but you are not going to burn them because you do not have the mass and volume to create that much heat to the surroundings as a spaceship does.

[@geo_licious]

This is basically what happened in "The Boys" The Flash clone ran right through someone. Apologized. And ran off.

[@fred4856]

A-Train

[@melg2283]

Omg yeahh the boys was so good

[@heypeepsimlizzie1942]

He actually didn't even apologize, he just said "I can't stop." Even though he stopped long enough to say that 🙄

[@petersmythe6462]

"When the SHUTTLE reintered the Earth's atmosphere in 1969." That thing is a command pod! The shuttle came over a decade later.

[@amihodges4899]

I was not expecting this subject of criticism, well done.

[@RICE-lq1zc]

My shuttle comes faster

[@e1123581321345589144]

if you can move that fast why not just grab the bullet? Obviously you could withstand the acceleration yourself otherwise you'd die the instant you try to move and if you can accelerate something the mass of a human to 25000Mph you should be able to safely decelerate that bullet to 0.

[@thalespro9995]

Because even if u can reach the bullet it’ll be too hard to catch it

[@domandal3015]

The neurons that make your body move this fast means that reflexes are super enhanced, thus the argument they made for not being able to react holds little value. Simply put since time would seem slower, decelerating that bullet is easy as pie.

[@dr.phylisphical9294]

Why didn't he just punch the dude.

[@sharkcon6673]

@@dr.phylisphical9294 wow what a genius, now both the suspect and victim is dead cause you neither stopped the bullet or saved the girl

[@dr.phylisphical9294]

@@sharkcon6673 but you did save her because he was going to rob her.

[@samuelsummers6953]

Flash doesn't have to deal with this shit

[@redstranger6772]

Cuz speed force

[@wammel7719]

Cuz flash cool and has super fast reflexes

[@nasirwynruit4200]

He moves so quickly that he can vibrate through the obstacles

[@thundermyth]

and he can speed up all of the body processes, like thinking or percepcion

[@RajMcBoss]

Cause flash can think fast and react fast

[@tyriquesmith8850]

Good thing the Flash has Speed Force as a cop out. I'd totally want his powers, basically entering an alternate dimension that is slower than the one around you.

[@weightacademy7834]

Tyrique Smith the slower time is real, if our brains reaction times are lets say 10 times as fast, time would appear to us be 10 times slower when something drops or whatever, its like a camera that can smoothly shoot at 5000 fps, it gathers more information around us, so if your brain gathers more info in less time time would appear slower. Try to make an animation at 24 frames oer second, the more pictures you make the slower it would appear to go. I would like super speed but if you can go at mach 10, everything would slow down and you would seem like running at normal speeds, lets say you want to go somewhere far, to someone it would appear you ran there in 1 second but for you it would seem like you were running for hours

[@WomanSlayer69420]

Why not just get the ability to freeze time instead? That honestly sounds like a bit of a downgrade.

[@anomaly395]

The main thing people forget is that super speed isn’t just running fast, everything about you is fast. That includes an extremely fast perception and reaction time. That’s why a lot of speedsters in media don’t run into stuff. They can speed up their brain to move just as fast as they’re running and see things a lot slower (which is essentially just making special relativity, time dilation or whichever it’s called noticeable for their brains, or at least that’s the explanation I heard). So crashing is hardly an issue. They also have stronger bones and durability to compensate for their speed, so hurting themselves by running fast is also not much of an issue. But everything else, yeah.

[@angelguadiana371]

you can move as fast as you want you don't have to go 25000 mph

[@sergeantdogmeat2270]

agreed and why would anyone go that fast to save someone? you could just go like 300 mph or something.

[@saifahmad7630]

Angel Guadiana or like catch to bullet

[@lookherelooklisten7850]

Angel Guadiana is just an example that he gave for the video

[@MrJohnk24]

if only bullets travel at 300mph

[@caboose.20]

saif ahmad catching the bullet does nothing

[@RexPerfection]

who the hell said you had to be going 25,000 miles an hour? i mean, it's not like we're obligated to stay going at that speed.

[@TheWartechgaming]

+David Musser yes lol 400 or 500 miles per hour is still very fast and enough to get anywhere fast

[@RexPerfection]

he's a superhero; anythings possible.

[@gamingboys5353]

Rt i wanna know what happens at 800 mph and lower

[@nickwalker7850]

Most of the time the Flash doesn't even break supersonic when he's cruisin' down the streets of central city. XD

[@weightacademy7834]

gaming Boys i think if our bodies are strong enough to hold at these speeds (no whiplash, brain hemorages or whatever) a heat and abrasion resistant suit is enough

[@slimthiccbih9390]

Would an alternative to this being able to slow speed around you while you stay the same speed.

[@AnimsOnDemand]

Matthew Clarke Time is relative so that would essentially be the exact same thing.

[@EmoWader]

would it? if you were to slow down time to where the bullet moves about 0.5mph you could move the person from its trajectory at about 5mph which wont cause any harm since thats about fast walking speed. the downside to this is that youre not fast, youre just way faster than everything else. In your head, you would still be moving at the same speed you always do.

[@AnimsOnDemand]

That makes you fast... Again, everything is relative. While from your perspective everything else is moving slowly, from their perspective you're moving extremely quickly, which you are. Because everything else is slower relative to you. There's a scene with Quicksilver showing exactly that effect.

[@EmoWader]

AnimsOnDemand yes but the difference is that you wont die from sudden acceleration or deceleration. Cause youre moving at the same speed you were before, everything else slowed down.

[@epithet052]

How do you propose you do that? High speed might be possible with high metabolism rate, but time manipulation is another matter entirely. The only way we know is for this superpowered person to accelerate the entire planet to near light speed. If superpower allows you to do anything then you might as well fix every problem with said power. Make other objects invincible so that you can't run over them; make yourself invincible as well so that you don't take damage; make gravity stronger so that you don't reach escape velocity; etc.

[@sniperflashgaming3868]

yea the flash's suit and technology fixes all that

[@minecraftpe89]

not tech its the speed force

[@lookherelooklisten7850]

DC Comics the flash suit fixes everything except his face, his eyes still out and the face too, mouth, nouse skin 50% of his face is not protected

[@deliciousradio3301]

william Werner speed force protects him and everything around him

[@FriendlyNeighbourhoodSpidey]

what is the speed force?

[@deliciousradio3301]

A kid In Africa A extra dimension that the flash (Barry Allen ) generates it protects him and everything in his environment this is why when the flash catches people they don't die from whiplash or when he's running his face doesn't burn off every speedster taps into it in the D.C. universe and the flash wouldn't be able to do half the stuff he can if it wasn't for the speed force

[@deadaccount3535]

1:36 most people with super speed in comics have faster reaction time.

[@user-cl6jp5vj1g]

Yeah, but the fact is that it's a comic. It isnt expected to follow laws of physics this deeply ig

[@franklinbatiste7545]

Reading Diamond what he’s saying is that running into buildings wouldn’t be a problem because super reaction time comes with super speed

[@mrpitpull4108]

@@franklinbatiste7545 but those are just comic

[@franklinbatiste7545]

mr pit pull Bruh were taking super powers from comics too so what we know about these powers should be coming from the comics

[@evilhutdug4665]

The only reason people like the flash avoids stuff like this is because of the speed force. I don’t know about the other stuff but faster reaction time should come with the super speed.

[@REfan001]

SPEEDFORCE I aint gotta explain shit

[@PFTheta]

Exactly we can just tap into the speed force. Flash 101 people come on.

[@Clobster44]

Pete Jones YES

[@burntashh3466]

I would go back in time and save my mother from when I was 11.

[@justanotheranimeprofilepic]

Congrats you just created DCs flashpoint universe

[@KellyCalKelsey]

"If you break the Sound Barrier you make a Sonic Boom, you Broke the Time Barrier, Ashh, Time Boom.

[@LunarOverdrive]

I would go back in time and use my super-speed to get the milk before dad needed to.

[@docrofreborn7497]

Don’t do it, you’ll kill everyone.

[@burntashh3466]

@@KellyCalKelsey Dr. Harrison Wells that was not necessary smh

[@kirbgaming8192]

How to not die from going fast: -*crouch* (you move slower) -*don’t even walk* (duh) -*be crippled* (go ride a horse they’re better)

[@kingambrosius9125]

I haven’t seen or read part 7 but I know a Jojo reference when I see it.

[@josethethinket9819]

Brandon Pike ah i see you are a man of culture

[@scottmccoy127]

Why does it have to be 25,000 mph? It seems like all these problems could be fixed if the person just ran slower. They could still run fast, but just have a nice balance between not too fast that the air and everything in it kills them, but just fast enough to get the job done.

[@weightacademy7834]

Scott McCoy that would be like 200 km/h, our brains cant handle the acceleration we cann accelerate at about 100km/h squared, if you went over 2000 km/h it wont be easy to stop

[@teddy7799wastaken]

ibwould enjoy this much more if the narator didn't make those noises

[@HisameArtwork]

I agree, he's really creepy, I can't listen to any of the vids.... also my neighbors may think I'm being attacked by raccoon or something :(

[@cocguvnor1373]

I think the idea is to have it in the format of a graphic novel, which are known for those 'noises' from the character. personally, I love this style of narration a lot.

[@HisameArtwork]

Yeah , I watched some and I liked them but this one is waaay over the top :(

[@chaif.6106]

+teddy idon'tknowwhattowrite yeah...they are kinda forced

[@228anonymous]

sounds a lot like deadpool lol

[@DendyJungle]

The boys is probably the only comic which showed how horrifying powers would be irl

[@tbuckley2031]

Invincible is pretty close

[@boredguy6970]

TBuckley 20 The Boys seems to be more consistent with Physics than Invincible since Red Rush doesn't turn people in to paste when he carries them 5 blocks away in half a second but A-train destroys everything he comes in to contact with while running . However both shows have artistic liberties throughout

[@crab5862]

"I wonder how much superhero insurance policy would cost" Actually, the Good Samaritan law says that as long as someone is attempting to help, whatever happens they cannot be in legal trouble.

[@piebomb8221]

But only if the person is unable to consent. If the person can say they don’t want help then you have to ask first

[@dr.prismatic5118]

That actually has been gone over. The other person does not have to consent to be saved Ie a suicide jumper can have a person catch them halfway.

[@Vapor817]

you can bet those laws are going to be changed if superpowers ever become common like they are in dc and marvel

[@dr.prismatic5118]

@@Vapor817 wdym? the consent law?

[@Vapor817]

@@dr.prismatic5118 good samaritan laws

[@CommandLineVulpine]

Reaction time is usually heightened along with super speed.

[@guitarhero2211]

Super Speed doesn't just make you run faster though. That would be pointless. It's supposed to heighten your reflexes by the same amount of speed you are moving at. If you were to run at 25,000 mph, then your reflexes would increase that much as well. Humans have the natural ability of adaptation. So if you move at 25,000 mph, and it takes 1/5 of a second to react normally, then by the laws of super speed, your reflexes would increase by the same rate at which you are moving. So for the sake of argument, your reflex time would be 1/5 of a millisecond. That would mean that you would be able to react to something 5 miles away just the same as if it were normal speed. The faster you move, the more your body has to adapt to the changes. You can't just look at something from a physics point, and just ignore the biological point in the matter. Especially when it concerns something happening to the body, and brain.

[@epyaid5369]

The Flash said that apart from running at high speeds, the speed force also alowed him to change his immense kinetic energy into potential energy instantly, and his reaction time is incredibly fast, just enough to react when is running. The faster you are going, the less time you live in. While he is running, everything seems slow. But, you can kill people by coming in contact with them at high speeds. In X-Men: Days of Future Past, It shows Quicksilver running and everyone is slow, and has to hold Magneto from his head in order to not get whiplashed. I mean I might have missed some things but its the same

[@joelmccoy7]

2:06 talked about reaction time. my question is since you have increased speed wouldn't you be about to react fast, since the narrator is basing his math on a normal person? this was probably already asked

[@torieldreemurr5036]

1:04 one mistake, one detail you missed that you actually included: the SUPERSPEED is toggleable, not permanant... It's little things like that I ADORE, and judging by it, you can DIAL UP your speed accordingly to your preference, it doesn't have to be 25,000 MPH by defualt, it could be you running at 2.50 X your max sprinting speed, with twice the excercise. I'M NOT BASHING THE CREATORS NOR DEBUNKING THEIR POINTS, IT'S ACTUALLY, LIKE I SAID, LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS I ADORE - - UU.

[@torieldreemurr5036]

3:25 WANNA BET?! THAT'S A CHALLENGE IF I EVER HEARD ONE, I CAN JUMP ANYWHERE FROM 0 MILES, TO 2,000 MILES, THAT... wait, would that be nothing for my brain? Okay, my max jump across is 50,000 miles of distance covered and increasing from constant excercising, but if my innertia was 2.25 X faster defualt walking speed, that would be an extra 10 MPH. Now for the math, if my peak is 50,000 miles for traversable jumping, and 25,000 MPH was in play.... I don't know how much my defualt speed would of increased, and since I can't multiply that I can't multiply how much of an increase that'd be... in other words, MATH SUUUUUCKS! - - UU

[@ranjs8072]

I was just gonna say that!

[@weightacademy7834]

Toriel Dreemurr still you have to move faster then a bullet which is atleast mach 1, it would still be like a car at 150 km/h hit her dead on

[@notinsideyourwalls]

Hi Toriel

[@user-mw4qi1kx3o]

sounds like deadpools narrating this lol

[@Troutforever445]

More like Ryan Reynolds

[@rachele3334]

Fun fact: it’s James Arnold Taylor, aka Obi Wan Kenobi from the Clone Wars series!

[@mr.shaggyfilms971]

My Superpower: "science said it couldn't be done" Ted ed: "I'm about to end your career"

[@maksillorenzo9480]

What if you were to run at just say 50mph or 100mph?

[@curlminion]

Maksil Lorenzo that's wut I wondered

[@priyanshujain5597]

But that isnt *SuperSpeed*

[@amihodges4899]

Seriously, just moving at 35 would please me.

[@AJSSPACEPLACE]

Priyanshu Jain i mean, 100 miles an hour is still WAY faster than any human has ever been able to run. Sounds pretty super to me

[@priyanshujain5597]

@@AJSSPACEPLACE Ok,But there is nothing fascinating or confusing about it as running at 100mph would not do any serious change or damage in our bodies,some minor one could be there but can be ignored It i could be possible if we had Superstrong Muscles and Bones and It will take very much energy of ours

[@Clobster44]

The Flash knows this and this does not apply to him nor any hero with access to the speedforce. You are correct but with the speedforce the Flash's whole body is at super speed. He can think and react fast enough to run without collision. And his suit is friction-less and from what I know he has an aura that prevents the whole cutting thing. And even if he doesn't we could theoretically say that with accelerated healing, small cuts would heal in fractions of a second without affecting him. And with saving people he knows the affects of speed and often works with motion to move in such a way fast enough to prevent injury such as hold the persons head like Quicksilver did in the X-men movie.

[@zannettos]

Yep take my upvote

[@dushawnable]

Yeah everything is spot on accept for the healing. He wouldn't heal from the cuts immediately because it isn't a regenerative healing factor just accelerated which means he needs more time to heal so it wouldn't happen instantly.

[@Clobster44]

Well if he can heal a broken arm in half a day then he should be able to heal tiny cuts in mere seconds. Plus his suit would cover most of him anyway.

[@dushawnable]

Cuts wouldn't heal instantly is what I'm saying it'll take more time than seconds his healing isn't top notch like wolverine or deadpool where they can heal immediately. The cuts wouldn't take long to heal but they would take longer than a few minutes

[@jonathanwynn25]

ThePowerVolt Ain't speed forece just in comics right.

[@randomgtafan]

It's Speedforce. I ain't gotta explain shit

[@Elliandr]

hmm. if you want to with the kind of super speed that's comparable to animals in nature, they typically have adaptations to handle it. Reaction time, for example, is much higher for birds of prey who are adapted to swooping down and catching a fish then a human running to catch the bus. the human brain is also capable of adapting to new kinds of stimuli, as verified in cases of humans who developed the ability to see into the infrared, so my assumption is that if someone was able to move that quickly they would be able to perceive and react accordingly. the only real issue is of course for the people they are saving which is pretty accurately presented here. Going to unrealistic speeds that defy our understanding of the laws of physics, on the other hand, would likely be better explained as an ability to manipulate time. If you can slow down time around you you can appear to move faster, and that's not that unrealistic to expect since moving at high speeds does in and of itself slow down time so you'd probably have a combination of effects going on. through this combination, it might be possible to save someone without crushing their brains.

[@Elliandr]

Schpoppin' S well, right now we actually experience a different rate of time than other areas of our own Galaxy because the gravity well we are inside is causing a distortion. even though it's not in a state of change it's still a difference. When you send a satellite into orbit and speed it up time slows down to the extent that we actually have to synchronize them back to our time. anything that can result in a increase in speed will cause a change in the flow of time itself. so, take your super-powered Speedster. What could they do to take advantage of this? Well, it's established that the flash can alter the vibrational frequency. if his atoms or molecules are vibrating there is an increased motion involved and this increase in motion corresponds to a slowing of time. Of course, even a jackhammer is not going to be enough motion to do what we want, but let's suspend disbelief for a moment. Let's assume that somehow they can vibrate their molecules that fast without causing harm. Their bodies will create a distortion field around themselves while they are vibrating and this would affect those around them. So when the flash catches someone and runs with them and then stops he's not going to Rattle their brains because he doesn't actually move fast enough to do so. It's not his legs that are moving the speed necessary, it's his molecular and/or atomic structure. from his perspective and the perspective of those he's carrying they will see everything Zoom around them, but think about a black hole. they last for a very long time, right? Wrong. From their own perspective they last for mere moments. If you could look at the universe from inside a black hole, assuming that was even possible, again suspending disbelief, you would see the entire universe moving around you in the span of Aeons to the second or longer and everything is moving so fast but you're staying still. the only reason why Hawking radiation works predictably it's because of that time dilation effect. It's really just one big explosion that's evaporating out and then it's gone, but because it imploded first and created that time Distortion it just looks like it's taking forever. there's one big one in the center of our galaxy that's been in the process of exploding for as long as this galaxy has existed and it probably hasn't experienced more than a few moments of time. so you will definitely feel like you're moving super fast and the people you are carrying will feel like they're moving super fast, but only in relation to the world around them. Don't feel an exhilaration of the motion, but it won't really be the same as being in a rocket. of course this also introduces other problems. Mass, for starters. I mean, it's a gravity well that's causing the distortion so a really heavy object will also work out time and there may or may not be a direct relationship. a Speedster vibrating that fast will probably also get much heavier which will still require consuming more energy, but if they can control their vibrational state and if they could limit it to just enough molecules to affect the surrounding molecules, the mass gain might not be too much to move. again though, suspending disbelief.

[@Elliandr]

Schpoppin' S and good point on the deceleration. if a Speedster took the extra few moments to slow down before catching them the risk of harm would be much lower and considering how fast they can move it wouldn't be that difficult. Even if they are catching them are running up a building. I mean, I used to train by running up walls some 10 feet tops and I didn't have to go that fast to do so so it's not like they can't decelerate at the right point and they probably don't even need to be able to control that precisely. the need to decelerate is probably also why the flash could catch a speeding bullet. It's the speed that would shoot through his hand, not the bullet itself. If he's a matching its speed when she catches it and then decelerates accordingly in just enough gradual a manner you'll be able to catch the bullet in the air and hand it to someone. It would probably be hot, but it would work, and if he has the ability to catch a bullet and drop it on the ground then he must have the ability to decelerate which means he must have the ability to control his momentum in such a night new way as to not kill people when he catches them.

[@jamestheawsome100]

Schpoppin' S the thing is speedsters don't slow down time itself, they speed up their perception of time so everything just looks like it slowed down. That's why a lot of small animals can react so fast, because they see things move slower so their brain has time to process what he sees so he can avoid it.

[@CalumCarlyle]

I was less than whelmed by this to be honest. Literally all of this stuff has been covered in the pages of the Flash, quite plausibly.

[@dorsal937]

STOP. WITH THE FUCKING. NOISES. JESUS.

[@l1am618]

This is why the flash has the speed force, it prevents all of these things

[@plasmacookiesorcerer3334]

which is annoying. it's like you try to us real science to explain or debunk Flash but nope STFU they have a speedforce, a completely imaginary inter-dimensional force

[@electricsymmetric7963]

rip quicksilver

[@Pacman-xp4qk]

+Electric Symmetric XD

[@oresteswp3567]

So thats why quicksilver wears goggles..

[@DangStank]

Obviously we would be able to react quickly if we could move that fast

[@Substantial-hf1rm]

Nerdling that's not how that works, the human body can only react so fast.

[@adamzidane1225]

+Brian Antoine Moving 20000 mph is not how the human body works either, yet it is allowed in this scenario. No reason that a human who was significantly advanced enough to run at 20000 mph wouldn't be sufficiently advanced enough to have reaction speeds to match.

[@russellkramer7226]

João pedro maybe we are all super fast, and that is why no one notices it

[@smither1mina]

Nerdling not exactly. Reactions are from signals going from and to your brain, which isn't enhanced by being able to move fast. It would definitely help you be a better suited hero of super speed to have a faster reaction but it doesn't come with it

[@datdamnkez]

Nerdling no we couldn't

[@Wrestlemainia135]

Solution to the bullet problem. First, go much slower. You don't need to go at 25,000 mph to save someone from a bullet, considering they usually travel 1,700 mph. Also you could run quickly up to her, stop, grab her, and the resume at a slower pace. If you can truly run at 25,000 mph then this little stop should not hinder you whatsoever.

[@CreeperKeeper702]

But fast super heroes have very fast reaction times

[@CreeperKeeper702]

Oh and comic magic

[@thebosssswag968]

Narrator: "Or worse, if we're indestructible, we've essentially turned our bodies into missiles." Me: Noooice.

[@ShadowDemon_4]

In 2009 Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt set the world record in the 100-meter sprint at 9.58 seconds. In 2005 Dean Karnazes ran 350 miles (560 km) in 80 hours and 44 minutes without sleep.

[@HardstuckDM]

He could just get the gun at superspeed before he shot.

[@nathanthompson5101]

yeah, and even if he couldn't get the gun in time, how about grabbing the bullet or hitting the bullet before the bullet hits the intended target

[@jackbotman]

Nathan Thompson Well im guessing, if the bullet moves at lets say 3000 feet per second and your hand moved at 4000, it might be faster, but doesn't matter, that bullet would be at a stand still compared to your hand, so even if that bullet is standing still your hand would still be moving at a 1000 ft p/s so from what I understand that bullet will go straight through your own hand and still hit the girl, sure you can grab the gun but the same rules apply so you will most likely lose a hand , so no matter what way you look at it, either a life or a limb will be lost here, unless you are indestructible then you might have better odds.

[@godtiereren7821]

I literally can't stop picturing wally west narrating this XD

[@jfellsie3905]

A few things are flawed in this. Faster speed of the human body means a faster heart rate, regeneration, and reflexes. So in theory if you had faster reflexes you would never run into a building, if you wear a suit your body is protected, and the average speedster moves at 2000 mph in the comics which would make the power a lot less deadly.

[@adamzidane1225]

+Fellinux A human that can move at 25000mph is magical in nature or uses VERY advanced science. Thus we can conclude that there is nothing stopping the human from either magically have faster reflexes or from having superconductors instead of neurones - the information in superconductors travels at near the speed of light.

[@adz6296]

If you're moving at extremely high speeds, the way you see things around you won't be at super speed. According to Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity, if you are moving extremely fast, time will move slower around you, so you'd have more than enough time to react to something. Theoretically, this can also be a way to time travel.

[@jaminschmitt]

TED-Ed: To get less dislikes on your videos I recommend not having your narrator using childish commentary. These videos, more than likely, will not be understood by most 3rd graders (which the narrator clearly thinks we are). The content itself is more suited for High-Schoolers and adults. If I wanted narration like this I'd go to "Tumble-books". The pictures and animations in your videos send a clear enough image without the cheesy storytelling. Thanks!

[@alaskafish4506]

Ugh... and those sounds he makes... Oooo... ehhhhh.... AHAHAHAHAH..... HUHUHUH....

[@VuTran-ls2iu]

i think it's kinda fun, and i prefer them this way.

[@Sykoangelo]

uhh dude its a comic book? full of thuds and whams and zackles!.......

[@DarkCartoon_music]

It does achieve that feeling well. Not what I'd expect for TED-Ed, but still enjoyable somewhat.

[@Pooua]

High-speed passage through air does not generate significant heat from friction, especially at high altitudes. That is an error taught by many grade-school science books. The heat actually comes from the heat of compression. It's the same thing that happens when you inflate a car tire; the tire becomes hot. Compressed gas refrigerators also work on this principle. As a gas is compressed, it releases heat. Air that is compressed by a spaceship traveling at 25000 mph compresses a lot very quickly, so releases a lot of heat.

[@dumbghost3109]

with superspeed your perception of time would be slowed because of how quickly the runners brain processes information

[@weightacademy7834]

widowmaker edits this is superhuman reflexes thats something else he didnt take in account ;(

[@jakeedwardlange]

Someone should write a comic series of superpowered heroes that are actually confronted with these scientific factors. It'll make an awesome supervillain origin story.

[@PashaSiraja]

I know you are trying really hard to put down claims about superpowers being good... but you're making stupid assumptions... why would you not simply stop the bullet itself from continuing in it's path ? instead of moving the person ?

[@MrCaseySasaki]

Pasha That was exactly my thought! With super-speed you could move as fast, if not faster than the bullet. Assuming your body was durable enough to survive moving at such high speeds to begin with, stopping a speeding bullet with your speeding hand shouldn't be a problem.

[@Definitequill9]

Casey Sasaki Just because you are moving really fast doesn't mean you can perceive your environment any slower. You wouldn't be able to see the bullet, let alone catch it in mid air.

[@MrCaseySasaki]

***** You wouldn't be able to run at supersonic speeds either because for ordinary humans that ability *doesn't exist*. I agree with your main point, but we're not just talking about a *natural human* moving at unnaturally high speeds, are we? We're talking about a supernatural state of being that (as far as we know) *is neither real nor possible*. Moving an *ordinary human* that fast, by whatever means, of course doesn't change their natural rate of perception. Duh. I agree. But a *superhuman* is, by definition, NOT an *ordinary human*. And in relation to hypothetical superhumans, your point is moot.

[@Definitequill9]

Casey Sasaki I was just clearing something up. Just cause a superhuman can run really fast, doesn't mean their minds can perceive their environment just as fast

[@PashaSiraja]

***** I understand your logical point of view, however it does contradict itself a little. If someone is able to achieve super speeds, there is no way they can use it for anything if their body and mind aren't able to work and process surroundings at an accelerated rate. In the example given in the video you are able to go to a person that's in the path of a fired bullet and you are able to beat the bullet's velocity to reach the person first and move the person out of the way. That needs just as much processing as moving someone standing in front of you and protecting them from a water-balloon; just at a much higher speed. So the video assumes the person is able to process things at a speed that'd be required at a higher physical speed, in which case it would be as easy as catching a fly to stop the bullet if you just match it's speed.

[@randoranderson8903]

Ok so most super speed also include super speeded up mental capacity, including reaction time. Also it also includes super speeded up biological needs such as regeneration, so they'd heal faster but need much more calories. And with the inertia thing if you grab her arm you'd likely tear it off, if you picked her up he'd likely b fine depending on where and how hard you grab her

[@fooforce]

Let us appreciate the voice acting talent this narrator has.

[@auroninja]

Its Tidus from FFX!

[@04_claymore]

what if you see in super reflex slow motion like quicksilver

[@weightacademy7834]

Koolio Manbeast thats super human reflexes

[@ThePromisedWLAN]

197 people have read more comic books than text books.

[@BBGirlSamus]

when you get super speed your entire body is changed, it can take more impact force, and your reaction time decreases, if you trained hard enough then you could see at nano seconds. and with the woman, your body generates a field of speed that protects anyone its lent to. so the woman wouldn't die...

[@BBGirlSamus]

also that speed bubble protects you from heating up to much.

[@connormacdougall748]

+Ghost PhD Music - Parker Knight I dunno about that "speed bubble" thing, but yeah, the rest of that makes some sense. But (ok, I'm about to sound like kind of a complete nerd, so bare with me) I think, that to have superhuman speed in the first place, a person's body would need to be entirely more durable, so as not to brake bones, pull muscles, and to be able to exert enough energy to move at high speeds, among other things.

[@BBGirlSamus]

+Connor MacDougall I thought if that too, but the speed bubble in a comic setting makes sense, like the flash has speed force and Quick Silver just moves time around him.

[@jlmoose3511]

Well all superheroes have something. To get rid of all the effects like heat from frictions because flash has a frictionless suit and quicksilver 'so body has a genetic mutation that makes his body able to sustain super speed

[@weightacademy7834]

You mean reaction times increase

[@masterpiece1817]

I may have figured out a way around all of this, thanks for the help!

[@prakashrawat8734]

Whoever voiced this video, Thank you, you are a nice man

[@CJEJTHEDJ]

Another form of super speed is reducing the speed of everything around you from your perspective. This phenomenon is a common event with everyday people to a lesser extent. Another interesting idea is how the passage of time, and therefore aging, would be altered by the extreme change in speed if done over long periods of time or consistently. The whole point of super speed is getting from one point to another in a short period of time, something which is heavily subjective and reliant on a number of forces.

[@Ruldolphmaker]

well if i had Super speed, first of all, i would need that reaction time. the faster something moves, the slower time moves to them. in theory if a train were to move at the speed of light, to prevent people onboard from running past that speed they would be moving in super slow motion from the common man's perspective nturally with super speed id want some super fast reflexes to boot and maybe some form of obstacle blocker.

[@tengun]

Ruldolphmaker you have it wrong. Time on a spaceship moving near the speed of light is slower than time on earth, which means that, for example, 5 seconds on the spaceship is like 1 hours on earth. The speedster would see the people on earth move even faster than it's supposed to be.

[@jackkierath4572]

+Ruldolphmaker +Quan To your both wrong, in different ways. if you were travelling at the speed of light, time would stop completely not super slow motion. also in a near speed of light and at speed of light the person would feel like everything is normal speed as the space time is distorted and the persons brain will also be slowed, making nothing different. only the fact that everything outside would happen way faster would be noticeable. also to all the random people reading this, yes this idea has been proved and is a 100% working time travel method. (legit tested but to hard to do with any thing other than that weird atom sized thingy i cant remember what its called) only problem is that this travels forwards in time, not backwards. also there is only one other method of time travel that has been proven. go 80 miles an hour in a white car. XD not really but there is actually one other way. speed distorts time but so does gravity. if you were to go near the super-massive black hole that our galaxy orbits around (centre of galaxy) you would notice that a minute for you would be equal to 2 minutes of some guy on earth. so yes time travels slower for you if you lying on the floor than standing up.

[@jackkierath4572]

+Jack Kierath but the difference is REALLY F!@#$%^ SMALL on earth. like 0.0000000000000000000002 of a second slower per day. so over 80 years you would get like a millisecond maybe? (not worth it at all)

[@tengun]

Jack Kierath Well, I was talking about near light speed (I mean very very near, I did say near in the other comment). Even 700 miles per hour is not even close to light speed. What you said is correct, though I don't see any contradictions with what I was saying

[@tengun]

Jack Kierath Also, At near speed of light, every distance shrinks to 0, and time stops, so literally we don't know what happens at the speed of light, time and space wouldn't even make sense, that's why I avoided talking about at the speed of light.

[@jasonmenoe8967]

1:43 True however,it's also possible that your reaction speed is increased as well.

[@polygous]

Slowing down time pribably is the best way to counteract the flaws of just running fast

[@jalilledoux8999]

vibration of a speedsters molecules stop the dust and other object and also help with air resistance. also if you move at Super speed your perception is altered so you would react to something faster.

[@jalilledoux8999]

same with friction

[@BillErak]

+Jalil LeDoux super speed isn't always Speedforce's super speed. it doesn't always comes with super reflexes and probably neither with super resistance.

[@shizik001]

uhm, couple of comments. If you can move at super speed not only your arm and leg muscles can move fast, I am pretty sure your brain can process at least small daily things fast too. This way this superhero should have reaction time about a microsecond and avoid any obstacle on his path. Second, if I was superspeed superhero and my only job was to save a lady from a bullet, I would catch the bullet and not the lady, or at least change bullet's direction.

[@fool5699]

I mean yeah, these superpower videos are ruining my childhood but I still love them

[@encounteringjack5699]

What if you catch the bullet instead of taking the girl? And then take out the guy without using too much speed but enough to knock him out. But I guess you make good points. But don't forget about that (catch billet instead of girl, 'cause that's the smart thing to do). Even if you create sonic booms or just very strong winds, you can still catch the girl while she's falling to the ground, right?

[@deliciousradio3301]

Multi Punch Flash has the speed force so it would protect the girl

[@jerriustate9638]

What if you flick the bullet back at the shooter? Quicksilver did it

[@EmoWader]

your fingers would be destroyed

[@deliciousradio3301]

Phyz I don't know about quicksilver but the flash can steal speed from any object or person so the velocity of the bullet would leave allowing the flash to hold it or flick it and as he flicks it he can just give the speed back to the bullet

[@jerriustate9638]

+lime ninja ^^^^that part

[@shealupkes]

the sound effects, the screaming and the voices are pointless, try to pretend you have an audience of people older than 5

[@anas12345]

+Shea Lupkes yes pleasee

[@meinbuch9458]

Agreed,i was very annoyed by the "additional sound effects" and thought that i could have enjoyed the presentation more without it.

[@livinggarbage2531]

Omg fuck off. Party pooper.

[@shealupkes]

Caitlyn Rodriguez This is what I'm talking about

[@videokingofthegalaxy5898]

Caitlyn Rodrigue you are cool

[@jka3076]

The friction can be dealt with by wearing protective, damage resistant clothing. The running into object before we know they are there could be dealt with by granting the person faster reactions and hence a slower perception of time when needed. The accelerating a girl to death problem could be dealt with by wearing a bulletproof vest and getting in the way of the bullet.

[@OhJasonOh]

Or just catch the bullet

[@andygabriel4010]

There also is the fact that you push the air around you like when you stand next to a car and feel the rapid wind. Being next to the flash would propulse us like if we were under a rocket starting to launch.

[@athenastevens9315]

Here is a possible way of attacking with super speed: pick up a rock or other object hold it out at arm's length run right at your opponent but a foot or two to the side let go of the object while going super fast just before you pass them, turning it into a projectile run past your opponent while the object collides with them

[@Tempest_Stream]

its funny how this doesn't effect the Flash at all. derp he can move through everything since hes so fast he fazes through them. that's why he doesn't hit a building when he runs around the world. T___T

[@Tempest_Stream]

or the molecules and dust and shit

[@sebastiansanfilippo6277]

Not to mention the flash gets is powers from the speed force, a dimensional energy that creates an aura around him allowing him to move fast, see things in slow motion (prevents him from running into unintentional objects), protects him from friction and letting him heal fast . it also prevents him from damaging his surroundings when he runs fast

[@sebastiansanfilippo6277]

***** what's your deal?

[@JayBird1997]

actually, if Flash really do run 99.9% of light speed which superman can do faster than that he will create a nuclear fusion before him...

[@sebastiansanfilippo6277]

Jay Leong Flash is faster than light bruh.

[@Digital2pulse]

"Super fast making our bodies like *Missiles*" hmmm... ISIS take note,maybe in the future ;)

[@maxdrags3115]

OMG xD

[@kikook222]

Took me a moment to realize this was narrated by a legitimate voice actor.

[@kentakagi5214]

it's james arnold taylor, voice of obi wan in clone wars

[@asimazameer9805]

when you consider a super hero with superspeed, it is taken into assumption that his reflexes are equally fast. theorotically that is what happens, and so he should, theoretically, be able to stop at a speed to match his velocity

[@Rebecca-qj1uk]

Knock knock knock...penny

[@jefferycow5947]

HAHAHHAHAHAH I get it XD

[@purpleapple4052]

Huh?

[@kylee2002]

Is the screaming really nessasary? I have the volume turned down very low and it still hurts my ears.

[@grimtygranule5125]

Well, at least 75 percent of media show super speed as more of super fast time perception. What I mean is that the person in question will percieve themselves going at a normal speed and everything else going super slow, while everything else percieves them going super fast. For example if the hero were to run full speed over the Grand Canyon they wouldn't clear straight over it or hit the wall on the other side, they would fall as if a normal person had run full speed off the edge.

[@susssybakas]

Super speed is op Most of the speedsters are super durable because if you were to go that fast you would burn up like an asteroid. If you were able to send signals to your limbs to move at superspeed, you would also perceive things as if they were in slow motion. As long as you are not faster than light.

[@jiraiyahermit4999]

You could also count in the factor: Our 'Stamina'? Like I can cover out around just 500 meters while running irl -- I get tired after all that. Wonder what would happen if this applies to this.

[@simonux1226]

If you have the power to accelerate all your body functions at once, you don't have to run, you can just walk while everyone from your perspective is standing still and still move really fast from normal people perspective

[@jiraiyahermit4999]

@@simonux1226 oh boy this was three years ago. And I have already known better. Thanks for the input anyway. I guess the me 3 years ago was talking about the issue of metabolism and stamina. By covering a great distance in a short amount of time; if such a speedster does exist, his or her body must ingest an immense amount of food and fluids to produce this form of energy to grant this feat as his body must still follow the normal behaviour of how a normal human being still do (in the context of this video, if they are still human).

[@jothemasher4083]

A-Train be like :

[@micah2455]

Many things with this 1. 3:59 the Good Samaritan law prevents him from going to jail 2. Molecules on front of him wouldn't have enough time to move around him, basically causing a nuclear bomb on his chest 3. It was never specified whether or not he was going fast, or if everything around him was going slower, meaning he could of cought the bullet, and a whole bunch of other problems (not breaking things when touching stuff because your moving faster than a bullet)

[@neji.-exe]

**Laughs in Koro-sensei**

[@sleepysushi1926]

Isn't the "Crashing your brain to the side of your skull due to fast speeds" considered "Whiplash"?

[@doctorbobstone]

I believe it's actually a concussion. AIUI, whiplash is an injury to the neck (and related muscles, spine, and so on) due to acceleration/deceleration.

[@UndoneFakeJesu]

If someone has this superspeed, I guess it also applies to their internal speed, meaning that information would be carried fast too. I would be more worried about the girl's neck....

[@CallMeEz]

Technically (if your thinking about it probably too much) for speedsters like Barry Allen, most of these problems are irradiated. He has the friction proof suit (which also apparently makes the air compression issue irrelevant), incredible reaction time, he can phase through a wall should he not be able to react in time for whatever reason, and the Speed Force should help create a barrier that can prevent damages caused by inertia, which is how he is able to move people (and himself) around at super speed.

[@shadowgun22]

In the Flash comics, speed force isn't really the amount of speed one travels, it is more so the manipulation of the temporal field around that person so that way the one controlling the speed force is temporarily outside of the means of time. This is why Barry, Ray, Bart, and all the other speedsters heal faster, study, read, eat faster, think faster, and react faster.

[@DeTruthful]

The power is super speed so that can mean super fast reaction aswell and a suit defeat the whole friction dilema short burts would help with the heat created and general destruction management plus with super fast reaction he can decelerate to move the girl, kill the shooter, knock away the gun, or even stand in between because any suit or person able to withstand the heat and friction of the air and particles can take a bullet

[@Nothing_serious]

The power is Super Speed only which means able to withstand friction and shits are different powers

[@deltaxcd]

I guess instead of moving girls from the path of bullet it would be far easier to deflect bullet and make it miss the target. also moving away few gram bullet is far easier that moving away tens of kilograms human.

[@deltaxcd]

Paul Francis Goneda actually no, speed includes reaction as main superpower. If you can just run fact that is not superpower of speed but superpower of strength. because that is what required. also rection is far more important than strength or movement anyway, if you could react fast enough you would not even need any other superpowers to evade bullets.

[@baroncosmos6545]

I have a concept for a character who has the ability to slow down time around him, but only to him, so he has none of these problems.

[@jackkierath4572]

+Johnny Burks so in other words that guy from the new X-men movie, without the cool hair and hilarious music... or for that matter there is like 100 other stories with someone like this................ nice try though

[@brianluk2006]

+Ra the Sun God that's an age old concept lol Zoom zoloman

[@JerbilKonai]

And as you slow or stop time the air is going to become solid, leaving you stuck in place and suffocating. And even if you only slow the time you would have to breath viscous air and walk through that same honeylike gas the air has become. Good luck doing this exercise.

[@baroncosmos6545]

you sciency fuck, you

[@JerbilKonai]

Ra the Sun God at least you didn't think about expanding the non-affected area cause that would have been crazy as soon as you touch anything that lives ...and yeah, thanks for your mature answer of four (or three different) words

[@teesaifele9391]

Shapeshifting would be the only power without any drawbacks

[@YkebazFiles]

This why The Flash's costume is engineered like a space shuttle so that it could deal with the intense heat caused by friction. This before he could tap into the Speed Force. He wouldn't dare to run fast without wearing his costume cause he knows the laws of physics.

[@brightwolf123]

wait so if the flash grabbed a person when saving them would turn to mush OMG the flahs is a murderer

[@minecraftpe89]

Speed force

[@adamweishaupt3733]

Does that apply to people around him?

[@saifahmad7630]

Adam Weishaupt still speed force

[@deliciousradio3301]

Jacob Specht SPEED FORCEEEEEEE

[@clintosss]

Jacob Specht this guy was talking about 25000 mph

[@b.sylphaen]

Let people cry all they want. This is so much fun for me and, as a fantasy writer, is incredibly useful. Thank you!!

[@ash_mini]

Even if you can react in time, the amount of energy you produce from running that fast will launch you forward too fast to stop completely unless you run in circles slower and slower.

[@jayati6693]

You're destroying my dreams one by one at a time. Superheroes were an integral part of my childhood. I know I shouldn't be here but probably I love physics more than I love superheroes.