Why cant you survive in a falling elevator if you jump up on the last second before you reach the ground?

Answer 1

Here is why the upward movement at the last half second would be inconsequential: Let's say that you had been falling inside the elevator for sometime, say, 50 floors, and that the elevator you were in, had time to reach maximum velocity, and just for the sake of it, let's say you were travelling about 100 feet per second. Translated to miles per hour, that is 68.18 Miles per Hour. Let's say that at the last half of a second, you jumped up at your maximum rate of 10 miles per hour, which decreased your downward velocity to a net speed of 58.18 Miles per hour. That means that you would still be falling at the rate of 85.33 feet per second, which is still more than sufficient enough force to crush your body.
This is a common thing for many people to think, and it seems like it would help you to jump up, but the gain by doing so is insignificant, and you would still suffer nearly all the force of falling.

Answer 2

Actually, I would think it might be almost possible.
True that you would be moving at the same speed of the elevator before you reach the ground, yet according the the law of conservation of momentum, if you were to push with your legs hard enough, you would transfer some of your momentum downward into the elevator. The problems lie in that this could only help you if you were on top of the elevator, else the momentum would transfer back to you as soon as you hit the ceiling; and that you would have to jump pretty hard depending on the speed that you are been falling.
However, the latter problem doesn't suggest that it can't be done. The jump is only necessary to save oneself, not to make the speed of the person at zero upon landing. I think that it might be possible to lose just enough speed to make an impact that one would be able to survive, depending on the ability to survive of that person.

Answer 3

You can probably decrease the impact a bit. But it is still a bad situation to be in, because:

(i) When you fall freely in an elevator, both u and the elevator are accelerating downward at 9.8 m/s^2, so as far as u are concerned, u gain a lot of speed as u travel down, and even with a last minute jump inside the elevator, your net downward velocity will be quite high.

(ii) Its also more difficult to jump inside a falling elevator. Apart from one not being psychologically prepared, there is a reason due to the physics of the situation: When u jump on a ground, the initial upward force on u is = your push... But in the falling elevator, u can still push, but the net upward force on u is = your push - your weight.

Answer 4

No.

An object in motion will remain in motion until acted upon by another force. If you are unfortunate enough to be in the falling elevator in the question, the ground will be what stops you. Gravity cannot be denied. Jumping up at the last second doesn't change the fact that you are hurtling towards the ground.

Answer 5

If you jumped off a 10 story building and could absorb the shock of landing you would save yourself.
The same would true of the elevator fall
If you were standing on top you wouldn't hit your head but remember the 100 ft fall.

Answer 6

it fairly is the perfect time for exercising the "2nd style vector arithmetic" If the develop is falling at (for instance) 32'/2nd (downwards) then you definately will die whilst it hits the backside of the shaft. in case you leap purely formerly result you will achive a vertical speed (upwards) of approximately 2'/2nd, while you're fortunate. remember which you're already descending at 32'/2nd. you may desire to now subtract your upward speed from that of the develop to grant your actually speed on the time once you hit the backside of the shaft. this provide you a internet speed of 30'/2nd (downwards). you would be very not likely to stay to tell the story an result at that velocity. If by some possibility you have the means to achive an upward velcolity of 32'/2nd purely because of the fact the floor of the develop reaches the backside your internet speed would be 0. regrettably, the roof of the develop will nevertheless be traveling downwards at 32'/2nd so this is nevertheless "strawberry jam" time. Sorry.

Answer 7

Can you jump upward as fast as it's falling downward?

The elevator that fell 75 stories in the Empire State building compressed the air in the shaft beneath it, so didn't hit the bottom nearly as fast as it would have otherwise, so the occupant survived.

Answer 8

Nope. The Mythbusters (on DSC) totally busted that myth. Seems as though if you're in a falling elevator, you're doomed.

Have a nice day! : )

Answer 9

Why not just press the Stop Elevator button?

Answer 10

You cannot reverse the acceleration caused by gravity.
You can slow it down a little, but as Force= Mass x Velocity,
it would still be fatal.

They demonstrated this on Mythbusters.