Qisthi Ramadhani Have you ever heard stories of ghosts appearing in plain sight, laughing in the corner, or even pushing people over? If those stories are true, we might be on the verge of a Nobel Prize in Physics—because it would mean the laws of nature as we know them need a major update.
In this Kelas Pakar episode, Adrian Danar Wibisono (Universitas Indonesia) breaks down supernatural claims using the simplest but most powerful tool: physics. He argues that any ghost story involving seeing, hearing, or physical contact is automatically subject to the laws of optics, acoustics, momentum, and—above all—energy conservation.
Why does this matter? Because it gives us a clear framework for testing stories—not just believing or dismissing them. And if the claims are real, both science and business could benefit: from Nobel Prizes to “ghost-powered generators.”
2. If You Can See or Hear It, It’s Physics
Key Concept: Visibility and audibility mean physical interaction.
We see something because it reflects light… if there’s something called a ghost and it reflects light, it follows our physics.
Hearing a sound is air vibrations entering our ears… anything audible vibrates air.
- If an object is visible, it interacts with photons in the optical wavelength range. This means it can be photographed, its spectrum analyzed, and its reflectance measured.
- If it’s audible, there’s a source of acoustic vibration within the human hearing range (20–20,000 Hz), which can be recorded and plotted on a spectrogram.
In short: claims of ghostly sights and sounds aren’t “beyond science”—they invite scientific measurement.
3. Touch, Momentum, and Action-Reaction
Key Concept: Physical force requires mass and energy.
If a ghost can push us over, there must be something with mass and speed—enough to knock us down.
If it can push us, it should be able to be pushed back.
- Any push involves momentum transfer and contact force—requiring effective mass and compliance with Newton’s Third Law (action-reaction).
- Such forces can be detected with force sensors, accelerometers, or strain gauges.
If a ghost can physically interact, it should leave measurable traces.
4. Energy Source: Conservation or “Ghost Energy”?
Key Concept: All physical phenomena require energy.
To push someone, a ghost needs energy.
If the energy comes from heat, batteries, or electricity—it’s easier to detect.
If the energy can’t be measured, it breaks the law of energy conservation—potential Nobel territory.
- Is there evidence of energy consumption? Local temperature drops, battery drain, electrical anomalies, or thermal signatures?
- If “energy appears” without a measurable source, it violates conservation of energy—a claim that, if proven, would revolutionize physics.
Adrian jokes about the business potential: if ghosts can generate mechanical work without consuming energy, “ghost-powered generators” could solve the world’s energy crisis.
5. Electromagnetism, Maxwell, and Ghostbusters’ Devices
Key Concept: Electromagnetic phenomena are measurable.
Movies often show ghosts being measured with devices… signals… it’s interesting because electricity and magnetism used to seem ‘weird’—interacting but invisible.
Maxwell connected electricity and magnetism—they’re actually the same thing.
- If ghost phenomena have an electromagnetic component, use EMF meters, spectrum analyzers, or calibrated antennas to look for consistent signal patterns.
- Compare with environmental noise to avoid false positives.
If ghosts operate in the EM domain, we already have the tools to measure them.
6. Dark Matter: Not a Free Pass for Supernatural Claims
Key Concept: Dark matter is a scientific hypothesis, not a catch-all explanation.
Dark matter… we can’t see it… doesn’t interact with electricity… only produces gravity… not yet proven [directly].
If it’s proven, its gravity can be felt—so it should be measurable.
- Dark matter is a cosmological hypothesis to explain large-scale gravitational dynamics—not something that interacts socially or physically at human scale.
- If ghosts are dark matter, their effects must still be measurable (e.g., local gravity anomalies). Without metrics, it’s not science—just storytelling.
7. Thought Experiments: Elevators, Inertia, and Consistency
Key Concept: Logical consistency reveals testable claims.
If a ghost passes through walls, how does it also reflect light? If it has no inertia, how can it push people? Penjelasan Fisika Soal Hantu
These questions force us to look for contradictions:
- Passing through solid objects but reflecting light (which requires material interaction) is inconsistent.
- Lack of inertia means no ability to impart force.
Such paradoxes highlight the need for scientific testing, not just narrative.
8. Personal Take
From a science literacy perspective, the most valuable takeaway is a falsification checklist:
- Can the phenomenon be captured by calibrated cameras?
- Is there consistent acoustic evidence?
- Can we detect force, effective mass, or impulse?
- Does local energy balance change during the event?
In practice, many “apparitions” disappear under simple controls: environmental logging (temperature, EMF), synchronized multi-sensors, and blind testing across locations. This framework isn’t about debunking belief, but clarifying confusion—and if something remains after all controls, that’s where real science begins.
9. Conclusion
If ghosts can be seen, heard, and touched, they are bound by the laws of optics, acoustics, and dynamics—and must be measurable. If energy appears without a source, it breaks energy conservation—a Nobel-worthy revolution.
The choice is yours: keep believing while reconciling with physics, or accept that many stories don’t match the laws of nature.
Question for you: If you could use only one sensor to test a “ghost” phenomenon at your favorite location, what would you choose—and why?
Watch the full video for deeper context and direct quotes at YouTube Malaka’s, Penjelasan Fisika Soal Hantu.