THE LAWS OF PHYSICS FOR BABIES
[Since a number of friends have had babies in recent months, I thought I resurrect this musing on the unique physics of the baby world]
THE LAWS OF PHYSICS FOR BABIES
Close observation of babies has led me to believe that the infant universe is characterized by its own physics, quite distinct from particle physics or the Newtonian laws of motion. I welcome and will periodically post suggestions about additional laws of the baby universe.
LAWS OF MOTION:
1) The Inflationary Universe: Obects tend to recede when you reach for them.
2) The Boomerang Effect: Once successfully grabbed, however, objects usually reappear after being thrown, with the special exception of objects made of glass or metal.
3) The Relativity of Gravity:
a) Gravity and Acoustics. Gravity can be temporarily reversed by generating noises, but only in the presence of other people. The speed of this reversal is directly proportional to the decibel level of the sounds generated.
b) Gravity and Context. Gravity spontaneously and unexpectedly reverses itself when approaching stairs, antiques, and the Thanksgiving dinner table.
FLUID DYNAMICS:
1) Animal Spirits: Fluids have a vital forces that causes them to splash and spill unless contained in bottles and sippy cups.
MATERIALS PHYSICS:
1) Conservation of Shape: Once broken or bent, objects tend to reappear in their original configutation.
2) Transformation: When reached for, shiny metal objects tend to recede and then become transformed into plastic or rubber.
GRAND UNIFYING CONSTANT:
The Attractive Pull of Mommy: the one universal force.
