Gravity
Earth’s gravity is an inescapable force…or at least on our universe’s Earth. But how does the gravity on our Earth compare to the gravity on Mario’s earth? To find out the acceleration due to gravity on Isle Delfino, I set up a gravity test.
The first step of the procedure in obtaining Isle Delfino’s g is to find a testing space. For this testing space I decided to use the main building in the very entrance of the island. To achieve the height of this building, I used Mario’s height and compared it to that of the building correcting for perspective, as demonstrated by the following pictures.
The first step of the procedure in obtaining Isle Delfino’s g is to find a testing space. For this testing space I decided to use the main building in the very entrance of the island. To achieve the height of this building, I used Mario’s height and compared it to that of the building correcting for perspective, as demonstrated by the following pictures.
After walking off the edge of the building, I timed how long Mario stayed in the air before hitting the ground. I recorded the following times:
.9 seconds
1 second
1.1 seconds
Average time: 1 second
To make sure that the game even had acceleration due to gravity, I also did a series of tests from the approximate mid-point between the ground and the roof, or half the building's height. I was able to do this by walking off the top of the building, and using the hover nozzle at the half way point, and then releasing. I recorded the following times:
.7 seconds
.8 seconds
.9 seconds
Average time: .8 seconds.
As the results show, Super Mario Sunshine must have acceleration due to gravity, for if objects fell at a constant rate, my average time when falling from the half-way point would be half the time that was recorded from falling from the top of the building, or .5 seconds.
Using the equation: X = Xo + Vot + ½at^2 and solving for acceleration, Delfino Island’s g can be obtained.
X = Xo + Vot + ½at^2
18 = 0 + 0(1) + ½a(1)^2
18 = ½a
Acceleration due to gravity = 36 m/s^2
The lab results I obtained (g = 36 m/s^2) are unrealistic, and I was personally surprised how there was no resemblance to Earth’s acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s^2). I also plugged in the halfway-point values and solved for g:
X = Xo + Vot + ½at^2
9 = 0 + 0(.8) + ½a(.8)^2
9 = .32a
Acceleration due to gravity = 28 m/s^2
Testing from the halfway point was very hard, for I had to jump off the building and turn on the nozzles at an estimated halfway point. With that in mind, the acceleration due to gravity of 36 m/s^2 would be a far more accurate answer.
What does this acceleration due to gravity tell us about Delfino Island? Does this mean that the humans and other inhabitants are incredibly strong to be able to support their weight? I would say that that is unlikely. My guess is that the game was designed to be realistic in a gravitational sense, meaning that there is noticeable gravity and noticeable acceleration due to gravity, but the value of acceleration due to gravity, which there would be little reason for the average player to calculate (unless they were a student of advanced physics), was ignored and left unimportant to the game developers.
Click here to visit the Friction page.
.9 seconds
1 second
1.1 seconds
Average time: 1 second
To make sure that the game even had acceleration due to gravity, I also did a series of tests from the approximate mid-point between the ground and the roof, or half the building's height. I was able to do this by walking off the top of the building, and using the hover nozzle at the half way point, and then releasing. I recorded the following times:
.7 seconds
.8 seconds
.9 seconds
Average time: .8 seconds.
As the results show, Super Mario Sunshine must have acceleration due to gravity, for if objects fell at a constant rate, my average time when falling from the half-way point would be half the time that was recorded from falling from the top of the building, or .5 seconds.
Using the equation: X = Xo + Vot + ½at^2 and solving for acceleration, Delfino Island’s g can be obtained.
X = Xo + Vot + ½at^2
18 = 0 + 0(1) + ½a(1)^2
18 = ½a
Acceleration due to gravity = 36 m/s^2
The lab results I obtained (g = 36 m/s^2) are unrealistic, and I was personally surprised how there was no resemblance to Earth’s acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s^2). I also plugged in the halfway-point values and solved for g:
X = Xo + Vot + ½at^2
9 = 0 + 0(.8) + ½a(.8)^2
9 = .32a
Acceleration due to gravity = 28 m/s^2
Testing from the halfway point was very hard, for I had to jump off the building and turn on the nozzles at an estimated halfway point. With that in mind, the acceleration due to gravity of 36 m/s^2 would be a far more accurate answer.
What does this acceleration due to gravity tell us about Delfino Island? Does this mean that the humans and other inhabitants are incredibly strong to be able to support their weight? I would say that that is unlikely. My guess is that the game was designed to be realistic in a gravitational sense, meaning that there is noticeable gravity and noticeable acceleration due to gravity, but the value of acceleration due to gravity, which there would be little reason for the average player to calculate (unless they were a student of advanced physics), was ignored and left unimportant to the game developers.
Click here to visit the Friction page.