The physics of climbing & falling

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    Falling Physics
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the physics of climbing and falling, focusing on concepts such as fall factor, force calculations, and the behavior of climbing ropes under load. Participants explore the relationship between gravitational forces, energy, and the mechanics of climbing safety equipment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant introduces the concept of fall factor as a critical measure in climbing, defined as the length of fall divided by the length of rope.
  • Another participant corrects an earlier energy equation, emphasizing the factor of (1/2) in the energy stored in a spring or rope.
  • There is a discussion about the maximum force exerted by the rope during a fall, with varying interpretations of how to calculate it based on stretch and gravitational force.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about how to determine the spring constant (k) for climbing ropes and suggest that it may require measurement or manufacturer data.
  • One participant proposes a method for measuring k by applying a known weight to a rope and measuring its stretch, while others question the accuracy of this method if the rope does not stretch significantly.
  • Another participant mentions the relevance of the fall factor in relation to the derived force equations, suggesting a connection between climbing dynamics and the physics discussed.
  • There is a mention of climbing shoe rubber and its scientific formulation, indicating interest in broader applications of physics in climbing.
  • A participant questions the origin of the (1/2) factor in the energy equation, seeking clarification on its derivation.
  • One participant shares a specific example of rope elongation under load from a manufacturer's website, leading to further calculations and comparisons of results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of agreement on the physics concepts discussed, but there remains uncertainty regarding the calculations of k and the implications of rope stretch. Multiple competing views exist on how to accurately measure and apply these concepts in climbing scenarios.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential inaccuracies in measuring rope stretch, dependence on specific definitions of terms like fall factor and k, and unresolved mathematical steps in deriving force equations.

Who May Find This Useful

Climbers interested in the physics of climbing, physics students exploring real-world applications of mechanics, and those curious about the technical aspects of climbing safety equipment.

  • #31
mitchellz8 said:
hey i am doing a project on physics of climbing for my high school physics class, so any info you have would be greatly appreciated

ps sorry if this seems a bit bossy its my first time on this forum.


I'd be glad to help. Are you a climber? There's a lot to think about in analyzing climbing...is there anything you are especially interested in? How mathematically intense do you want to go?
 
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  • #32
mitchellz8 said:
hey i am doing a project on physics of climbing for my high school physics class, so any info you have would be greatly appreciated

ps sorry if this seems a bit bossy its my first time on this forum.

The rest of these threads would be a good place to start.

CS
 
  • #33
I am a climber and I have read this thread, not necesarily understood it all but I am going to ask my teacher to explain what he can to me.

And in response to sidis I am in Ap calc 1/2 now and am in my first year of physics so not to terribly deep mathmaticaly but i have a good base understanding and my teachers can help if i don't understand. One thing i was interested in was the fristion vs. muscle element of each type of grip (crip, sloper, jug, pinch) and such things. One thing that i could not find was the coefficient of friction of a climbers hands on either rock or plastic holds, i found some info on rubber soles of shoes but nothin of hands.
 
  • #34
Phil Watts of Northern Michigan University (I'm not sure he's still there (we only climbed together once)(he wrote this book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0873228146/?tag=pfamazon01-20)) did some work on friction of hands, etc in climbing. It would be easy to set up your own experiment with a hold--natural, or plastic--a scale, and a climber (victim?) to see how much force it takes to pull the hold from their fingers. Try it with and without chalk. Try different kinds of grips.

This should be useful: http://www.trainingforclimbing.com/new/research.shtml

Let me know what else I can do to help. Lots of climbers are mathematicians, physicists, engineers, and the like--where my wife and I are currently climbing regulars (Red River Gorge, KY) sometimes it seems more like a science convention than a rad climbing area. *grin*.

Where do you climb?
 
  • #35
I am a marylander and I don't get chances to climb outside so I am bound to Earthtreks. But this summer me and my friend where going to take a trip somewhere for a week to climb.
 

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