If I were in a plummeting lift
Discussion
Serious question or watching too many cartoons.
You're plummeting down under the force of gravity for say 20 seconds.
Simple physics says velocity is acceln.*time. Say gravity is 10m/s2 then after 20 seconds you'll be travelling at 200m/s
Then you jump up for half a second (that's hard try it)
Assuming you could then to counteract your speed, you'd have to accelerate at 400m/s/s not taking into account gravity pulling you the other way.
If you can do that please cone and see me as I have some shiny stuff I can sell you
(To the mathematicians and physicists out there - yes I know, but it's close enough)
You're plummeting down under the force of gravity for say 20 seconds.
Simple physics says velocity is acceln.*time. Say gravity is 10m/s2 then after 20 seconds you'll be travelling at 200m/s
Then you jump up for half a second (that's hard try it)
Assuming you could then to counteract your speed, you'd have to accelerate at 400m/s/s not taking into account gravity pulling you the other way.
If you can do that please cone and see me as I have some shiny stuff I can sell you
(To the mathematicians and physicists out there - yes I know, but it's close enough)
Thankyou4calling said:
And I jumped at just the right time before it hit the bottom of the shaft would I be OK?
There’s a good documentary called ‘Speed’ where something similar happened near the start of the film and they were all fine, so I’d say yes. It also showed how you can keep driving a bus above 50mph in traffic. The worlds best jumpers can jump at about 4 mph (a meter or two a second) think about how long you are in the air and distance jumped (vertically)
The lift will fall (if from a taller enough height) at 122 mph, so if you timed your jump perfectly, you might hit the ground at 118 mph instead of 122 mph
The lift will fall (if from a taller enough height) at 122 mph, so if you timed your jump perfectly, you might hit the ground at 118 mph instead of 122 mph
No, and I think Mythbusters tested it and proved it wasn't possible. The ceiling of the lift would still be coming down towards you as well don't forget.
What they did also show was that in some very specific circumstances, the designs of old lift shafts were such that the amount of air being compressed under the lift was forced into the shaft so hard that it had a cushioning type effect on the lift car which did save someone - think that was the basis of the myth they tested at the same time.
What they did also show was that in some very specific circumstances, the designs of old lift shafts were such that the amount of air being compressed under the lift was forced into the shaft so hard that it had a cushioning type effect on the lift car which did save someone - think that was the basis of the myth they tested at the same time.
in theory it can't drop because the electro brakes have to have power to keep them working. without power, they operate- lift won't fall.
I'm not an lift engineer.
In an old office of ours, we had a very old lift. it keep failing !
I was in it once when it did start to drop obviously out of control (not far though) and then starting bouncing up/down mid floor.
It was terrifying ! I jammed my fingers between the doors, got them to open enough and jumped out/climbed out at a maybe 4' height. If yr scared you have a surprising amount of strength !
I'm not an lift engineer.
In an old office of ours, we had a very old lift. it keep failing !
I was in it once when it did start to drop obviously out of control (not far though) and then starting bouncing up/down mid floor.
It was terrifying ! I jammed my fingers between the doors, got them to open enough and jumped out/climbed out at a maybe 4' height. If yr scared you have a surprising amount of strength !
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