Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Shadowy Man · 06-29-2005, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack the Bodiless

It also helps if the substance is readily compressible, to absorb the impact energy: and liquids generally aren't.

I think this is the key factor - compressibility.

Loren Pechtel · 06-29-2005, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowy Man

I think this is the key factor - compressibility.

No, that's just a proxy for how easily it gets out of the way.

Draygomb · 06-29-2005, 09:39 AM

I've heard it is possible to survive without any injury a dive from any height into just 6 feet of water simply by arching your back when your fingers touch the surface.

Arvel Joffi · 06-29-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack the Bodiless

It also helps if the substance is readily compressible, to absorb the impact energy: and liquids generally aren't.

Presumably, you could make a water impact survivable if you could inject a gas into the water and create a lower-density compressible foam of bubbles.

There's a high-speed water slide (I can't remember where) that does this. You can go much faster on this slide than would normally be safe since the air bubbles are injected into the water at the end of the slide, reducing the water density.

Ghost Of Lectricity · 06-29-2005, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel

No, that's just a proxy for how easily it gets out of the way.

Maybe viscosity is the way to think about it then.
Or perhaps Reynolds numbers. (just kidding)

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06-29-2005, 09:39 AM	#13
Draygomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Harrisburg, Pa Posts: 3,251	I've heard it is possible to survive without any injury a dive from any height into just 6 feet of water simply by arching your back when your fingers touch the surface.

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