This document summarizes 7 instances from the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoon that break scientific laws of physics. Each infraction is described, including which law is broken. The infractions include: 1) Wile E.'s briefcase continuing at the same speed after exiting a moving car breaking Newton's 1st law. 2) A cannon moving backwards more slowly than a cannonball breaks out breaking Newton's 2nd law. 3) An explosion leaving no imprint in the ground breaking Newton's 3rd law. 4) Wile E. walking off a cliff before falling breaking the law of gravity. 5) The Roadrunner stopping instantly breaking conservation of momentum. 6) Wile E. falling with instant

1. By: Evan Pastor & Andrew Swanson

2. Episode
We chose to do our project on Road Runner
and Wile E. Coyote: Sugar and Spies.

3. Infraction #1
Prediction: The
briefcase would
continue with the
same velocity as
the car was moving.
 Description: The briefcase has inertia so it
would continue forward unless some other
force had acted on it.
 Law it Breaks: Newton’s 1st Law

4. Infraction #2
Prediction: The
cannon would
move backwards
slowly while the
cannon moves
faster.
 Description: Cannon moves back as fast as the
cannonball shoots out, the cannon/car have more
mass so they should have less velocity.
 Law it Breaks: Newton’s 2nd Law

5. Infraction #3
Prediction: The
explosion would
cause an imprint in
the ground.
 Description: Because there is an equal but opposite
reaction to every action, there would be a visible imprint in
the desert sand but it looks as if no explosion happened.
 Law it Breaks: Newton’s 3rd Law

6. Infraction #4
Prediction: Just as
he steps off the cliff,
he would fall down
the ravine.
 Description: Wile E. Coyote walks on air
but gravity would pull him down.
 Law it Breaks: Law of Gravity

7. Infraction #5
Prediction: The
roadrunner would
skid or slow down
over time to come
to a stop.
 Description: Roadrunner stops instantly but his force
and mass should cause him to slow down and then
stop.
 Law it Breaks: Conservation of Momentum

8. Infraction #6
Prediction: He
would fall with
acceleration down
the ravine.
 Description: Wile E. Coyote falls with instantaneous
speed and doesn’t accelerate, but objects accelerate
to their terminal velocity.
 Law it Breaks: Free Fall Principles

9. Infraction #7
Prediction: If he had
enough momentum
to make an imprint
into the ground, the
matter in the
ground would go
somewhere.
 Description: When Wile E. Coyote makes an imprint
into the ground, the matter basically disappear.
 Law it Breaks: Conservation of Matter