Dancing Physics
 Introduction:  
Physics and Dance 
are experimental ventures. 
You should go out and test them!
 
           Rebecca Miller
 
 
Newton's
Second Law
 
 
Conservation of
Angular Momentum
 
Conservation of
Energy
 
Standing Waves
 

Optics and Lighting

  • angle of reflection =
    angle of incidence
  • shadows (opacity)
  • umbra (point to darkest shadow)
  • penumbra (point to fainter shadow)
  • transparency
  • translucency (scrim, costume)
  • laser through diamond ring
    shows the atoms dancing
 

Mechanics: Levers and Simple machines in the body

  • 1st class levers
  • 2nd class levers - biceps and hamstring
  • 3rd class levers

Pressure and Stress

  • a dancer's toe supports 500 pounds per square inch
 

Structures

  • suspension bridges
  • the back of a dancer
  • cantilever bridges

Control Theory

  • balance
  • feedback  

A Math Appendix for Dance

  • The interpretations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
  • Sine waves, Cosine waves, Transformations
  • Triangles!
  • The Golden Section, Proportion
  • upper arm/fore arm
  • fore arm/hand
  • carpal/meta carpal
  • meta carpal/phalanges
  • geometry and line
  • the study of perception faces, hands