If you jump off a bridge 50m above the water does the water need to be 50m deep?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physics of jumping from a height of 50 meters into water, emphasizing the complexities of water resistance and impact dynamics. Key factors include the angle of entry, body orientation, and the depth of the water, with a recommendation that water should be at least 5.03 meters deep for safety. Participants noted that hitting the water at high speeds can result in severe injury, and that proper technique—such as entering feet first—is crucial for minimizing impact. The conversation also highlights the importance of body position and surface tension in determining how deep a jumper may go upon entry.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics principles, particularly kinetic energy and impact force.
  • Knowledge of water dynamics, including resistance and surface tension.
  • Familiarity with diving techniques and body orientation during jumps.
  • Awareness of safety considerations for high dives and cliff jumping.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "Physics of High Diving" to understand the impact forces involved.
  • Learn about "Water Resistance and Surface Tension" to grasp their effects on jump dynamics.
  • Study "Diving Techniques for Safety" to improve entry methods and reduce injury risk.
  • Explore "Safety Protocols for Cliff Diving" to ensure proper precautions are taken.
USEFUL FOR

Athletes, particularly divers and extreme sports enthusiasts, as well as safety professionals and educators in physics and sports science will benefit from this discussion.

  • #31
Jeff Reid said:
It's a visual thing...

Maybe I'm wrong then about the surface tension being broken by bubbles or choppy water or whatever.
 
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  • #32
tony873004 said:
Maybe I'm wrong then about the surface tension being broken by bubbles or choppy water or whatever.
I don't thing surface tension is a big factor. As another factor, it would take a tremendous amount of bubbles to reduce the effective density, as mentioned in another discussion regarding if a boat's water line would be affected by going over a bubbly section of water. I wonder if diving inside the water of a water fall would help (like the cases of barrels over Niagra Falls).
 
  • #33
Here's a link confirming what you said about spraying water:
http://juniorengineering.usu.edu/workshops/water/water.php
Another way to reduce surface tension is through physical means. If you have ever done a belly flop off the diving board you should be quite familiar with how water's surface tension effected you. Platform divers feel the same sting even when they land properly. To help reduce surface tension, a hose with a nozzle is positioned to spray water into the pool at the spot where the diver enters the water.
 
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  • #34
Jeff Reid said:
... as mentioned in another discussion regarding if a boat's water line would be affected by going over a bubbly section of water. I wonder if diving inside the water of a water fall would help (like the cases of barrels over Niagra Falls).

I saw a Discovery Channel, or maybe it was Nova episode on why large ships sink, and one theory was giant bubbles that altered the water's buoyancy.

Re: Niagra Falls, I would imagine it would have to help. Is the surface even clearly defined at the bottom of a waterfall? There's got to be a reason the barrel riders choose Niagra, rather than a tall cliff into a lake.
 
  • #35
Bubbles of methane?
 
  • #36
methane?


you don't mean 'landfill' or 'ocean/river' bottom methane, do you?
 
  • #37
I heard (must have been on the Discovery Channel) a theory that ships in the Bermuda triangle were sunk by large outgassing of methane due to an underwater landslide. Maybe "ocean bottom" methane.
 
  • #39
Oct. 2007 Physics Today happens to have a related article (not about sinking ships, but gas storage) "Clathrate hydrates under pressure."
 
  • #40
Loren Booda said:
I heard (must have been on the Discovery Channel) a theory that ships in the Bermuda triangle were sunk by large outgassing of methane due to an underwater landslide. Maybe "ocean bottom" methane.

ahhhh, it's from all those bean-eating Atlanteans still living down there---
 
  • #41
If i drop a rock off this bridge approximately how long should it take to hit the water if it is 10-15m below?
 
  • #42
JimmyJockstrap said:
If i drop a rock off this bridge approximately how long should it take to hit the water if it is 10-15m below?

you got to do your physics. do you know what the relevant equations are?

like

d = \frac{1}{2}a t^2
 

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