Strange question...

[49BANDICOOT]

If you were to perform a perfect dive into water that was deep enough, what is the highest you could jump from and survive?The reason I ask is that I've seen high divers jump from cliff faces from very high, and given that the maximum speed you can fall to Earth is 120mph, do these divers not reach that speed and if so whats the difference between that and 10,000 feet?

[amiwright]

120mph=roughly 60 meters per second velocity= acceleration X time 60= 10 (9.8m/s) X time time=60/10=6 seconds So you will reach max velocity in 6 seconds ignnoring air resiatance. Also V(sqrd)= 2 acc X distance so 60X60=3600= 2 X10 X distance so distance = 3600/20 = 180 meters to reach max velocity. The highest headfirst dive (acapulco mexico 1934) is 35 meters, although you can break limbs at this hight. Velocity is around 60 mph i think, so you could go a bit higher feet first i guess. I think if you controlled your speed and reduced your terminal velocity, you could survive a fall from any hight although i doubt if you would ever walk again. You would probably break every bone in your body. Not one to try at home.

[TobyCrake]

Terminal Velocity is dependent on the position you take in the air. A stable sky diver may fall at around 120mph but if you move into a head down dive 200mph+ is apparently possible. That'll make the water really feel hard.

[incitatus]

Terminal v is so dependent on air resistance it is hard to work out. The most important factor with divers is the aspect at which they impact the water. If you present a large area to water when hitting it the water behaves inelastically. In other words its harder than concrete. Hence belly flops. If, on the other hand you present a small area you cut the water rather than compressing it and can dive from great heights without too much harm. Its all to do with the transient force interactions within the liquid matrix.

[rekstout]

I have a handbook that advises against diving from a height feet first as hitting the water with slightly open legs can result in water being forced into unusal places for both men and women with dangerouse consequences