yes or no
2006-07-07 21:37:51 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
They tried it on mythbusters on discovery channel with a dummy inside
Lemme find the link to that episode.
=====
Episode 17: Elevator of Death
This is not exactly the answer to your question since what they tried is if you can survive the crash by jumping. It may provide some hints though.
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/episode/episode_08.html
2006-07-07 21:45:33 · answer #1 · answered by virgo77 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no
when you are in an elevator and the ropes snap, everyone - you and the elevator - go on a freefall.
Since the same gravitational accelaration works on you both, you fall at the same speed. So even when you read the ground, your feet at on the floor of the elevator.
For your head to hit the roof, you would need to fall at a different speed (actually slower) than the elevator and that doesnt happen
2006-07-08 05:07:46 · answer #2 · answered by Neil 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A "60 Minutes" (I think) investigation from a few years ago showed that if an elevator failed, it was most likely a problem with the counterweights, and the biggest danger was that the elevator would burst through the roof of the building.
2006-07-08 04:46:21 · answer #3 · answered by Peace Pup 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Both the elevator and its passengers would fall at exactly the same rate, so you would become weightless, but you would not hit the roof of the car.
2006-07-08 04:40:47 · answer #4 · answered by Techwing 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No..most elevators these days are equiped with brakes and grabs on the sides to keep that from happening.
2006-07-08 04:42:37 · answer #5 · answered by Dark Knight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no.
the elevator would free fall to the 1st floor, go through that and end up in the garage level and everyone on it would be roast beef.
2006-07-08 04:43:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may well, but you would be better off finding a brick wall somewhere banging your head against it repeatedly whilst chanting "the word is THE, the word is THE".
2006-07-08 04:45:45 · answer #7 · answered by Panda 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO
Even if there are no brakes, etc. i.e. say you were just in a box supported by a string which got snapped.
2006-07-08 04:59:02 · answer #8 · answered by debraj_roy_dr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no u slams to the floor
it just like u free fall from above
2006-07-08 05:43:03 · answer #9 · answered by yoyox_34 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The brakes would go on. You would be stuck.
2006-07-08 04:41:16 · answer #10 · answered by Epidavros 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋