Problems for
Intermediate Methods in Theoretical Physics

Edward F. Redish

The Bungee Jump

As part of a Physics Open House a department sets up a bungee jump from the top of their physics building. Assume that one end of an elastic band will be firmly attached to the top of the building and the other to the waist of a courageous participant. The participant will step off the edge of the building to be slowed and brought back up by the elastic band before hitting the ground (we hope). Estimate the length and spring constant of the elastic you would recommend we use. Be sure to clearly state your assumptions and how you came to the numbers you estimated, since grading on this problem will be mostly based on your reasoning, not on your answer.


RETURNS

University of MarylandPhysics DepartmentPhysics 374 Home


This page prepared by

Edward F. Redish
Department of Physics
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Phone: (301) 405-6120
Email: redish@umd.edu

Last revision 13. November, 2005.