If someone jumps off the Golden Gate Bridge, they will be killed instantly when they hit the water. But why is it that when people jump off a waterfall, they walk away fine.
2007-10-25 09:28:28 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Has to do with water's surface tension. At the bottom of the waterfall, there is hardly any surface tension because it has been broken by the falling water already. So you only feel the impact that the actual water's pressure has on you.
Jumping into a larger, more still body of water means you face the pressure of the surface tension as well, which can be deadly.
Surface tension is when the molecules on the top of the water sort of stick or meld together. It's why small bugs can sit on the surface of water in some places.
2007-10-25 09:33:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Surface tension.
When someone jumps off into a 'still' body of water the injuries are caused by their body trying to break the surface tension of the water as well as the fact that the water below the surface is "settled and solid".
Water under a waterfall has the surface tension 'broken up' by the falling water plus the water below the surface is churning and is a mixture of water and air.
Try this experiment. Fill up your bath tub about have full. With the water off, slap the top of the still water with your hand and remember what that feels like. Now.. turn on the faucet and slap the surface where the flowing water hits. Compare the two sensations. Even at this speed (of the slap) you'll be able to sense the difference.
Keep in mind the physics of the fall as well. After about 100ft you are falling at the maximum velocity of around 100mph so unless there is something ahead of you to 'break the surface tension' it's not going to be pretty!
Hope this helps!
2007-10-25 09:35:48 · answer #2 · answered by wrkey 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The golden gate bridge is probably a lot higher than the waterfall your talking about. Jumping off the golden gate bridge and hitting the water is the same as hitting cement.
2007-10-25 09:30:58 · answer #3 · answered by sweetjade210 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
it has to do with the height that you are falling, and if the water is in constant motion. If somone were to jump off the golden gate bridge, it would be like hitting cement because, even though the water is moving..its very heavy and it moves at a slower rate.
Then with a waterfall..i wouldnt say that EVERYONE walks away from it fine, but because the water is moving faster, when you fall..you are pulled into it..causing less friction between you and the water.
that's my personal opinion.
2007-10-25 09:34:03 · answer #4 · answered by bah 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They don't, that i know of
If they were to though, it would be because the waterfall is breaking the water's surface, below. The impact of jumping off a bridge is what kills you. It's the same as smacking into concrete. But if the pressure is broken up (i.e. the waterfall) you can slip easily into the water. Now the danger in that is the waterfalls pushing you too deep, not allowing you to resurface and/or hitting your head or other body parts on rocks.
2007-10-25 09:32:25 · answer #5 · answered by colley411 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not positive, but i think it has something to do with the water movement. When the water pours into the pool, or where ever it is pouring into, there is a gap that you fall into. But when you hit the surface on water that is still, the pressure and force will kill you. Plus, i doubt the waterfall they jump off of is really big.
2007-10-25 09:34:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe because there is much more pressure and room in the water by the golden gate bridge and in a water fall they can have a chance of moving around and hitting land even though some aren't so lucky. The shock is reduced with the water fall but you can die from either of them.
2007-10-25 09:31:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
because when they jump off the Bridge... their body is breaking the water.... and in turn will break the body because of impact... when jumping off a waterfall the water below is already flowing and "broken" so there is less impact when the body hits the water. that is my best guess.
2007-10-25 09:31:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anna J 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They don't walk away fine, that only happens in movies.
If you put a fruit stand up on a sidewalk, a car won't automatically crash through it, either.
(and not everyone who jumps from the Golden Gate Bridge dies. Almost everyone, but there are survivors.)
2007-10-25 09:31:38 · answer #9 · answered by Richard T 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is a realy good question. I think its because on a water fall the water it moving there for the surfus of it is already broken, but like you said if you jump of a bridge the surfius of the water isent broken there for you break it with your fall killing your self. have you ever heard people say that it hurts more to get hit with a wall of water then a wall of bricks? its true..well hope I answered your question for you..
2007-10-25 09:34:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋