Harry Potter--The Science Behind the Magic

Friends, be sure and stop by Crystal Collier's blog. I'm hanging out over there, sharing two truths, one lie, and other fun information.

Today we're doing something a little different. Super nice and super smart Stephen Tremp is here to share the science of Harry Potter using E=Mc2. I should mention that science was always my worst subject. I've only had one C on my report card. Guess which subject? Yep. Science.

Just for fun, let's hear how an epic duel between Dumbledor and Voldemort could've really happened. Take it away, Stephen!

The Science of Harry Potter using E=Mc2

My “thing” is to converge science and the supernatural, using Einstein’s famous equation E=Mc2. This will help make sense of our universe. According to me, at least. 

In the Harry Potter series, there is much magic that allows for spectacular settings and scenes, both in the books and the movies. But can there really be any science behind the magic? Let’s take the epic duel in Order of the Phoenix between Professor Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic.

Albus Dumbledore: "It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way —" 

Voldemort: "By which time I shall be gone, and you dead!" 

— Dumbledore and Voldemort taunt each other briefly prior to the duel

So how can these duelers make fireballs of death and water prisons out of small insignificant sources of fuel? 

Enter =Mc2: Einstein’s iconic equation. The equal sign means just that. Equal. One side equals the other. So energy is the same as matter times the speed of light squared. That’s a lot of energy if you take a moment to think about it. 

Okay, but what does that mean? Think of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Both bombs released less than two percent of their total potential energy. And just think of the mass destruction they caused. That being said, what if the bombs released one hundred percent of their energy?

Your Assignment: Google “Mass To Energy Calculator” and try it out. For example, 100 pounds of mass, should it be able to release all of its energy, would be the equivalent of close to 1,000 megatons of TNT!

Here is one such link: CLICK HERE and scroll down to the Energy To Mass Calculator and give it a try.

So perhaps Dumbledore and Voldemort weren’t just waving wands and magically making things out of nothing. They could simply be using the potential energy of nearby objects such as fire and water to make awesome weapons by converting mass to energy and energy to mass.

Thanks, Stephen! 

See what I mean about smart? Stephen even makes me think science is fun.

Tell me, friends, are you fascinated by science? Or were you like me and got a C and never wanted to take that class again? Have you ever wondered how story scenes could've possibly happened for realz? Please share!

Stephen Tremp is the author of the Breakthrough series. Together, Breakthrough, Opening, and Escalation follow the lives of the unlikely participants from innocence to a coming of age through sacrifice, betrayal, passion, lust, unconditional love, and hope. Escalation will appeal to fans of modern-day science fiction, action, horror, and even romance.

Stop by Stephen’s Blog for more information on the Breakthrough series. To download Escalation: The Adventures of Chase Manhattan CLICK HERE.