Max acceleration experienced by the jumper?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a bungee jumper who falls from a height with elastic cords. The problem requires determining the maximum acceleration experienced by the jumper, given specific parameters such as mass, cord length, and tension.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on the jumper, including gravitational force and tension. There is an exploration of the relationship between these forces and acceleration, with attempts to apply Newton's second law.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, attempting to calculate acceleration using different approaches. Some have provided numerical estimates, while others question the correctness of their calculations and the assumptions made regarding the forces involved. There is no clear consensus on the correct approach or final answer yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with specific values for mass, tension, and spring constant, but there is uncertainty regarding the interpretation of the cord's extension. The problem also involves converting acceleration into g's, which adds another layer of complexity to the discussion.

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Design a "bungee jump" apparatus for adults. A bungee jumper falls from a high platform with two elastic cords tied to the ankles. The jumper falls freely for a while, with the cords slack. Then the jumper falls an additional distance with the cords increasingly tense. Assume that you have cords that are 15 m long, and that the cords stretch in the jump an additional 22 m for a jumper whose mass is 80 kg ,the heaviest adult you will allow to use your bungee jump (heavier customers would hit the ground)
what is the maximum acceleration the jumper experiences?
ks = 59.93 N/m
max force of tension = 1318.46
someone please help i have no idea how to do this
i solved for the ks and the max tension but i have no idea how to find acceleration at all i tried F of tension =ma but that is wrong and i tried mg=ma and that's still lwrong someone please help me!
 
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Free body diagram. What two forces act on the body?
Write that F1 + F2 = ma.
Careful with the signs - be clear on whether up or down is positive and put appropriate signs on the F's.
You should find that the ma is highest when the stretch is greatest.
 
F1 would be -mg and F2 would be the force of tension?
 
if so its (80)(-9.8)=1318.46N = ma and solving for a would equal 6.68075 m/s^2 righttt?
 
That 6.68 is very close to what I found, but I couldn't follow the rest.
Certainly (80)(-9.8)=1318.46N can't be correct.
 
sorry i meant (80)(-9.8)+1318.46N = ma haha soo its 6.6 right?
 
I get 6.7 or 6.8 depending on the accuracy of g used.
 
i just tried all of those they are all wrong :( any idea what's wrong?
 
it also says |ay| = ___ g's (acceleration in m/s2 divided by 9.8 m/s2) so I am guessing its not in m/s^2
 
  • #10
Try 6.67/9.8 rounded to the usual number of digits.
 
  • #11
nope still wrong the the answers has units in g's soo yaa idk
 
  • #12
Dividing by 9.8 definitely converts it to G's. I get 0.68.
Were these given or did you calculate them?
ks = 59.93 N/m
max force of tension = 1318.46
The 22 m extension seems a bit large; is it possible the writer meant to say it stretched TO 22 m instead of stretched BY 22 m?
 
  • #13
they we're calculated but they are correct and it is an extension of meters
 
  • #14
How did you get ks = 59.93 N/m?
 

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