Can the Flash Take a Hands-Free Selfie? (Because Science w/ Kyle Hill)

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The Flash is the fastest man alive, but is he fast enough to take his own selfie? Kyle has the photographic science on this week's Because Science?

Because Science every Thursday.

Artist: Andrew Bowser

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[Nerdist]

*The "Kyle is wrong!" FAQ*

1. For the mega-selfie, because of the Earth's curvature, the Flash would have to be standing on something over a dozen meters high. That's why I didn't say exactly 18.6km -- he'd have to travel a bit further than a straight line would dictate.

2. In these examples I am only considering the photons that hit the Flash the moment he's at the location he poses. I am not considering all the photons that hit him while he's running around, causing streaks.

3. These won't be perfect pictures (streaking, blurring, etc.), but the Flash would be in them!

(UPDATING) -- KH

[butterpigyy]

1700s: why do we fall on the ground?

2017: is the flash fast enough to take a hands free selfie?

[BigFraz]

Is anyone else curious how Kyle writes/draws so well 'mirrored' so its the right way for us?

[justinritchey]

"Wanna see me run to that mountain and back?" ...."Wanna see the picture of me up there?"

[MrOlumide]

Who here is only subscribed to nerdist because of "Because Science"

[johnstreutker]

Something stood out for me early in the video when Kyle said the camera would only fall about the diameter of a small molecule... Wouldn't the vacuum created by Flash moving his hand away from the camera increase that? There's also the fact that everything has it's own gravity so when he pulls his fingers away, the camera is going to want to follow the gravity created by an infinite-mass finger.

For some reason I'm just especially inquisitive today. Feel free to poke holes in both of my theories :)

[karencrampz]

I find myself saying, "Because.. science" a lot now a days... thanks for that!

[billysbilbolag]

That camera that you could see light move with truly blew my mind

[saad]

Because Science and MUUSKWAAAATCH are the only reason i am subbed. Talk about the new spacesuits by dad tho.

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

Just saw Because Science on this weird over-the-air broadcast tv station the other day, was mesmerized, and fell totally in love with you and your teaching method!

[megamanatee]

this series is the only reason im subscribed

[continuum]

The time it takes for the button press to register to the motherboard and for that motherboard to send the signal to the camera completely changes the variable

[wikkidspork]

I was just thinking about this Friday night on a date, I'm glad you made this video. It's also crazy timing

[tylor]

Hey Kyle. love each and every single one of your video's, not only because of my love for comic's and sci-phi but because you manage to find a way to explain everything in way we can all understand. Please don't stop what you do. <3
Also while i was watching this video, i was wondering how many g's The Flash would pull when he stops at a certain speed?

[SNOWSOS]

I've seen a 13 old kid drab while his cellphone is mid fall, I'm sure the Flash could manage.

[taytd]

Love your videos. Also the person hi at the end. Good stuff.

[coffego]

I support this channel, probably the one of the best ones which helps you with science and math etc....

[stacypovey]

Err that's not how photography works. The Flash has to beat the time from when the button is pressed to the time when the shutter is open. The shutter time expresses how long the shutter remains open and so is how long the flash must remain stationary for there to be a picture of him equal in density to an object in that had been in position the whole time. If it were a high speed video he has to be even faster to move in the time between frames.

[jakecallum]

Hey Kyle here's something I've been wondering. Could Yondus arrow (the one in guardians of the galaxy) go through captain Americas shield.

[TheDarkSaberGod]

This is the quality stuff I subbed for, more flash stuff