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Enter Momentum (and Exit Momentum)
The conservation of momentum is another fundamental law of physics. This law states that the total momentum of the objects in a closed system cannot change as long as there are no external forces acting on the system. In other words, objects will continue to do what they are doing as long as nothing bothers them.
This law is vital to almost all of the platforming sequences in Portal.
A vector quantity is something that has a magnitude (or strength) and direction. Momentum is defined as a vector quantity that is calculated by multiplying an object’s mass by its velocity. By this definition, it’s possible for a small object (like a bullet) to have the same momentum as a running elephant in the same direction.
Like mass, momentum is another physical quantity that is conserved through portals. An object will have the exact same momentum leaving the second portal as it did entering the first portal. Players who are familiar with Portal know that when you have to get to a high area that’s out of reach and lacks portal-conducting surfaces, it’s time to exploit this conservation law.
“Flinging” is a technique that gamers were required to use when playing through the first Portal game. Since your momentum remains the same through portals, reaching high areas often required you to gain momentum through other means. Flinging involves carefully placing your first portal where you would like to be launched from to make a jump. You can take advantage of gravity by jumping off a high point to gain speed (and thus, gaining momentum). If you place a portal where you would have ended up landing, you’ll emerge from the first portal only to find that you’ve just been flung across the obstacle that was once in your way. It’s possible to do this over and over in order to gain even more momentum when traversing larger gaps.
Portal 2 introduces the propulsion gel, which allows you to run faster across any surface that’s coated in this orange solution. This allows for “horizontal flinging,” where the propulsion gel helps you gain momentum on a horizontal surface.
Given the physics-defying premise of the Portal series, Valve still does an excellent job of incorporating real-life physical principles in the universe they have created. Gamers who have played and completed any of the Portal games are aware of how the physics works without really knowing why.
Real physical concepts are incorporated in these games. What better way to learn about them than through the language of Portal? Valve’s respect of classical mechanics is a beautiful thing. Everyone who has played Portal and Portal 2 has been treated to a significant dose of physics content without even knowing it.
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