Artificial Means of Jumping Higher

  • Context: Undergrad 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores various artificial means to increase jumping height, considering theoretical and practical applications. Participants propose different mechanisms and technologies, including springs, rockets, and trampolines, while examining the feasibility and limitations of these approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that using a spring could theoretically increase jump height but questions the practicality due to the required large spring constant and the difficulty in compressing it.
  • Another participant mentions the potential dangers of high acceleration when using artificial means like rockets or robotic devices.
  • A third participant references pogo sticks as a known mechanism for increasing jump height.
  • One participant discusses the concept of using a spring in conjunction with a jump to add kinetic energy, indicating that there are many ways to achieve this.
  • Another participant proposes trampolines as a viable option, noting the impact of rules in competitive jumping events and suggesting that different techniques could yield higher jumps.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various ideas and mechanisms for increasing jump height, but there is no consensus on the best method or the feasibility of the proposed solutions. Multiple competing views remain regarding the effectiveness and safety of different approaches.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations include the assumptions about the practicality of using springs and the safety concerns associated with high acceleration methods. The discussion also touches on the rules governing competitive jumping, which may restrict certain techniques.

Haftred
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I am looking to see if there is a discrete way to increase the height one can jump, and the only way I could see it feasibly being done is with a spring. However, the spring could only realistically be supressed a few centimeters, and the spring constant needed would need to be relatively large, say 100,000 N / m. Even if there were a spring with this large spring constant, it would be almost impossible to supress it the needed few centimeters. Therefore, it seems that springs would not do anything. Any ideas about artificial means of jumping higher?
 
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Yes, except after a certain point, the acceleration you experience would kill you. You could use some sort of rockets, robotic leg type devices, etc.
 
It's kind of a quirky question. If you jump onto a spring and simultaneously jump again, you are using the spring's stored energy from your fall plus the energy you are exerting to jump again.

So really what you are asking is, "how can I add kinetic energy", and there's a LOT of ways to do that!
 
What about a trampoline? If you're referring to the rules of a high jump in track events, note that the rules require that only one leg is planted. If a gynmastics type flip flop move were allowed, using a two foot take off, the height would be much larger. If the surface were allowed to be springy, as in power tumbling (not an olympic event), the heights are quite high.
 
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