if a man weighing say 13stone was lifted to the edge of space and then dropped?

Question

How long would it take to fall to earth and hit the ground?Strange question i know but it suddenly interests me.

Ok let me explain a bit more....When i say the edge of space what i mean is the point at which you are just about to leave the earths atmosphere

ok people i was hoping to get an answer from someone who understands the question!!!! the type of answer i want is.......hey it would probably take about 20mins etc.....

Answer 1

the edge of the atmosphere is a very debatable point, 99% of it is contained within about 31km but the rest peters out very slowly up to what is generally agreed upon about 1000 km, what you should be asking for is the outer limit of gravitational pull.
also as a couple of extra points,
1, his weight is irrelevant....wind resistance being the only factor.
2. he would burn up quite rapidly and certainly never hit the ground...not in any form that we would recognise anyway.

Answer 2

The edge of space is officially defined as being 100 km up.

The terminal velocity of a human body falling is in the region of 125-250mph, or about 50-100 metres per second (depending on whether he assumes the "dive" position or spreads his arms and body as wide as he can). Obviously he takes a little time to reach that speed, but that's a small effect: conversely he will be able to go faster at first where the air is thinner. Let's assume the 100 m/s as an average. Therefore he will take 1000 seconds or about 17 minutes to fall.

Interestingly (or not - you decide), this is almost exactly double the time taken for the light which would illuminate his final moments to travel from the Sun to the Earth.

Answer 3

I don't think the problem is that people dont understand the question. You need to understand that 'the edge of space' doesnt really mean anything. Try suggesting a height such as 100km or 10,000km either could be argued are the 'edge of space'.

Also weight IS relevent and not just air resistance. Our planet has an atmosphere afterall.

Answer 4

He would fall slowly at first going into a semi orbit- free fall at the edge of the earths atmosphere but would burn up as he re-entered the atmosphere.
A man did once jump from a very high distance (100, 000ft I think), wearing a protective jump suit it took him about 20 minutes to fall all the way back to a height where he opened his parachute.

Answer 5

Gravitational acceleration is 9.81 metres per second/per second, But air friction will slow the body down.
So do your calculation from say the edge of the atmosphere and take of about a third for friction.
As young students we watched one of our classmates dive from a a 50 foot board and miss the pool, our class exercise the next day was to calculate the force at which his head impacted the concrete.

Answer 6

Your question can't be answered because there is no edge of space. No matter how far from the earth we can go, or even look into with unbelieveably powerful telescopes space just keeps going and going.

Answer 7

alrite man i worked it out and checked it and rechecked it. first of all it doesnt matter how heavy the man is we would all fall at the same speed. This is called terminal velocity. So anyway it would take exactly 32mins 29secs. good question by the way

Answer 8

Not enough information.

Even what he is wearing would affect his terminal velocity, as well as what position he was in as he was falling (spread eagle, head first, etc).

To many variables, not enough information.

Answer 9

when you get an answer could you let me know my ex is 21st and so i'll almost double your answer that sorta interests me lol