4 ms·
One thing I've been curious about for a while: would it be possible to survive free fall into water if equipped with a sufficiently long spike-shaped "base"? Th
by leot 10y ago
One thing I've been curious about for a while: would it be possible to survive free fall into water if equipped with a sufficiently long spike-shaped "base"? The sharp part of the spike, which would probably have to be 100+ ft long, would be oriented so that as it entered the water it would displace more and more water, reducing the g-forces experienced by the spike, and you atop it.
A few improbable things would need to also hold:
1) Spike would need to stay straight as it entered the water.
2) Spike should not significantly increase terminal velocity, at least not for most of the descent
I think (?) it's doable, but would be fun to see the physics worked out. E.g., how long should the spike be? What should be its shape? How could it be kept maneuvered into the right orientation for entering the water without significantly increasing terminal velocity?
- rdruxn 10y agoI always been curious about surfactants and whether you could throw some underneath yourself in a free fall to break up the surface tension in a splash landing.
- avar 10y agoThen today's your lucky day. Mythbusters did a bit on exactly this, i.e. if you're holding a hammer and about to fall into water, whether throwing it ahead of you will break the surface tension and save your life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCSQExxWulU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCSQExxWulU