How to Teach the Electromagnetic Spectrum with Superheroes

The success of films such as "Avengers: Endgame," "Black Panther," and "Captain Marvel" has established the superhero genre in modern popular culture. Many students will have seen these films, or at the very least they are familiar with a number of the superhero characters. In the physics classroom, content based on superheroes can be used in support of learning materials on topics such as optics, advanced materials, kinematics, and the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Studies have highlighted several student preconceptions with regards to different radiation types. For instance, the literature suggests that students incorrectly classify certain radiation types as unnatural, and they cannot differentiate between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.