Moving oneself when in freefall?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physics of movement during free fall, particularly in scenarios like jumping, diving, or trampolining. It confirms that while in free fall, a person's muscles do not need to counteract gravitational force, making limb movement easier. However, extending arms horizontally from a relaxed position still requires effort, as the act of lifting creates a normal force. The key takeaway is that while weightlessness is experienced, the effort to move limbs is still present due to the need to exert force against the body's inertia.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Basic knowledge of gravitational force and weightlessness
  • Familiarity with the concept of normal force in physics
  • Awareness of biomechanics related to human movement
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  • Research the principles of Newton's laws of motion in relation to free fall
  • Explore the concept of weightlessness and its effects on human physiology
  • Study the mechanics of normal force and its role in lifting movements
  • Investigate biomechanics of limb movement during free fall scenarios
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This discussion is beneficial for physics students, sports scientists, and anyone interested in the mechanics of human movement in free fall situations.

pivoxa15
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Here is an extract from a textbook.

"While jumping or diving or on a trampoline a person will experience apparent weightlessness for a very short time. They will be in 'free fall'. It is much easier in these conditions to move your arms and legs since the force of gravity does not need to be overcome. Standing still and holding your arms out horizontally can be very tiring but a diver or gymnast in motion can move their limbs easily."

Is this correct? Moving ones arms out horizontally when in free fall while trampolining is just as difficult as when standing on the ground because the graviational force on your arms is constant when in free fall or not near the earth.
 
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Yes, it's right. When in free-fall, your muscles are not exerting to keep your arms up against their weight; they are allowed to fall.
 
But you are purposely extending your arms out from a relxed, dangled position. It's like trying to lift a weight a height d while in free fall relative to you. You still have to do work=Fd in lifting this weight. However, I agree you will not feel your own weight because there is no normal force in this situation. However, when lifting (relative to you) whether a weight or your arms, you create the normal force.
 

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