Question

In February 1955, a paratrooper fell 360 m from an airplane without being able to open his chute but happened to land in snow, suffering only minor injuries. Assume that his speed at impact was 60 m/s (terminal speed), that his mass (including gear) was 80 kg, and that the force on him from the snow was at the survivable limit of 1.2 x 10^5N.

(a) What is the minimum depth of snow that would have stopped him safely?
(b) What is the magnitude of the impulse on him from the snow?

Answer 1

Answered

Step-by-step explanation:

V_i = initial velocity = 60 m/s

F = average force = 1.2 x 105 N

m = mass = 80 kg

a = deceleration caused = F/m = 1.2 x 105 /80 = 1500 m/s^2

d = stopping distance

V_f = 0 m/s

Using the equation

V-f^2 = V-i^2 + 2 a d

02 = 602 + (2) (-1500) d

d = 1.2 m