Post by Bob B. on Nov 22, 2006 23:48:11 GMT -4
I just finished watching an episode of MythBusters. For one of the myths they had to determine the maximum velocity a person could generate when jumping straight up from a standing start. Several cast members jumped as high as they could and where filmed in slow motion. From the films it was determined the maximum takeoff velocity was 8 ft/sec.
A person’s takeoff velocity shouldn’t be any different on the Moon than on Earth. At 8 ft/sec on the Moon it would take 1.5 seconds to reach the apex of the leap and the maximum height achieved would be 6 feet (1.83 meters). This is of course less than the HBs usually claim is possible. When we consider that bulky spacesuits encumbered the astronauts’ movements, it seems a leap as high as 6 feet would have been nearly impossible.
The highest leap I know of is when Neil Armstrong jumped perhaps 5 feet to the lower rungs of the LM’s ladder. This seems to be consistent with the above data. Also consider that Armstrong had the rails of the ladder to hold onto to keep from falling over. A leap of several feet when the astronaut had no means to steady himself would have been ill advised because he could have fallen awkwardly, perhaps injuring himself or damaging his equipment.
A person’s takeoff velocity shouldn’t be any different on the Moon than on Earth. At 8 ft/sec on the Moon it would take 1.5 seconds to reach the apex of the leap and the maximum height achieved would be 6 feet (1.83 meters). This is of course less than the HBs usually claim is possible. When we consider that bulky spacesuits encumbered the astronauts’ movements, it seems a leap as high as 6 feet would have been nearly impossible.
The highest leap I know of is when Neil Armstrong jumped perhaps 5 feet to the lower rungs of the LM’s ladder. This seems to be consistent with the above data. Also consider that Armstrong had the rails of the ladder to hold onto to keep from falling over. A leap of several feet when the astronaut had no means to steady himself would have been ill advised because he could have fallen awkwardly, perhaps injuring himself or damaging his equipment.
