Elevator

[hopalong]

If I was in a elevator and it broke loose would it be possible to survive if I jumped just before in hit the bottom?

[Clanad]

This question has been asked several times...

here's a sample:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Science/Question101835.html

[Peter Pedant]

the answer is no - or everyone would do it !

In fact you should rely on the automatic elevator stopper, which comes into play when the thingey snaps. Clever gadget. It was this, patented in 1876 whch made elevator technology possible, and hence sky scrapers.

[boobesque]

unless the elevator fell only 2 feet or so

[gary baldy]

I think the amount of fatalities involving lifts can be counted in single figures in the 100 odd years its been invented so there is not really much to worry about.

[qapmoc]

You would easily survive for the extra 250 milliseconds it would take you to hit now stationary elevator floor.

[Robert G]

In theory you would survive if, immediately before the lift hit the base of the shaft (assuming the auto-stopper didn't work), you could jump up at or about the same velocity as the velocity of the lift. Jump too soon, however, and you would hit the ceiling very hard.

[delboy3]

Sorry to contradict you, gary baldy, but there was an elevator accident in Panama eight years ago which killed 13 people, and well over 100 people have died in coalmine lift accidents in the last 20 years.

[wildwood]

I saw a movie a long time ago where a chap jumped up and hung onto the light, then lifted his legs up just before the lift hit the bottom. While this was make-believe in movieland, I suppose that would be the likeliest way to survive.

In reality it would be difficult to be aware when the bottom would be hit, and the cage would probably disintegrate.

[brachiopod]

Hanging onto the light / celing / whatever would cause your arms to be ripped out of their socketswhen you hit the ground, wildwood.