Super Mario Physics

How would a physics equation look like if it tried to determine what goes into Mario jumping up to destroy a block with his fist?

The US is so behind.

how so?

So, anyone gotta clue?

You know, that explains a lot. I used to think the psycho motherfucker leapt up and headbutted them into oblivion, but being a wussy Italian plumber, it figures he'd use his fist.

Let m_m = mass of mario
Let v_m = velocity of mario at instant of impact

Let m_b = mass of block

When mario punches the block, it moves up a bit, but it evenutally snaps back down, so we assume that the block acts like a spring following Hook's law

Thus, k_b = spring constant, and resting displacement is x_o, the same point at which mario contacts it with his fist.


When mario punches the block, it moves upwards, but eventually downwards force exerted by the block is so great that it pushes mario back down.


So, we are trying to find a function F(m_m,v_m,m_b,k_b) that outputs the maximum displacement of the block.  We will ignore the effect of gravity.