Surviving a Freefall: Calculating the Impulse on a Paratrooper Landing in Snow

  • Thread starter Thread starter dominus96
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Impulse
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a paratrooper who falls from an airplane and lands in snow, raising questions about the minimum depth of snow required to stop him safely and the impulse experienced during the landing. The subject area includes concepts of mechanics, specifically impulse, momentum, and energy conservation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between kinetic energy and impulse, with some attempting to clarify how these concepts interrelate. Questions about the definitions and calculations of impulse and momentum are raised, alongside discussions about the implications of the given parameters such as mass and terminal velocity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various interpretations of the problem. Some have provided insights into the calculations of kinetic energy and its relevance to impulse, while others are questioning the connections between these concepts. There is no explicit consensus yet, but several lines of reasoning are being examined.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may require assumptions about the stopping force and the nature of the snow, as well as the definitions of impulse and momentum. There is also mention of a related thread that may provide additional context.

dominus96
Messages
51
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



In February 1955, a paratrooper fell 370 m from an airplane without being able to open his chute but happened to land in snow, suffering only minor injuries. Assume that his speed at impact was 60 m/s (terminal speed), that his mass (including gear) was 80 kg, and that the force on him from the snow was at the survivable limit of 1.2*10^5 N.

(a) What is the minimum depth of snow that would have stopped him safely?

(b) What is the magnitude of the impulse on him from the snow?

Homework Equations



delta P = F*t
F=ma?

The Attempt at a Solution



I have no clue, I've never seen a problem like this before...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Paratrooper's mass and treminal velocity is given. Find his KE when he touches the ground. Finally he stops. Change in KE = Force X Displacement.
 
I found KE, but what does that have to do with impulse? I thought impulse was change in momentum?
 
impulse is mV1-mV2
 
but KE will tell u what velocity the man lands at the snow
 
mv1 - mv2...is that like P1 - P2? (P stands for momentum)
 
Yes. Now that you have kinetic energy, you have everything you need to solve this.
 

Similar threads

What is the minimum depth of snow needed to stop a paratrooper safely?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Solve Impulse and Depth Homework Challenge
  • · Replies 58 ·
2
Replies
58
Views
28K
How high is the snow pile if a kid jumps off it and lands on the ground?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Solving Paratrooper's Fall: Estimating W, F, & Air Resistance
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
How Does Physics Explain a Paratrooper's Survival After a 370-Meter Fall?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
How Does Snow Impact Paratrooper Survival Physics?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
How to calculate the kinematics of an object pushed up an inclinex plane?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Paratrooper falls without parachute
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
How Deep Must Snow Be to Safely Stop a Falling Paratrooper?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
What is the Average Acceleration of a Person Falling Off a Mountain?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K