Re: [Phys-l] physics of the human body

[Vern Lindberg <vwlsps@rit.edu>]

Physics with Illustrative Examples From Medicine and Biology, Benedek  
and Villars, Vol 1 Mechanics (ISBN 0387987541) does a large number of  
such examples, including surviving free-fall (+air resistance) from  
high altitude -- no parachute.

Vern



On Jan 4, 2008, at 6:39 AM, Brian Blais wrote:

> Hello,
>
> In my intro physics class, we do an activity where we analyze movies
> using as much physics as we can.  The students usually choose crazy
> action sequences, like car jumps or fighting in airplanes, but many
> also want to look at the unbelievable stunts done by the characters.
> Is there a good way of estimating how likely it is for someone to get
> up and walk again after a fall from a known height?   Or, being hit
> by a car, or holding onto a rapidly moving and turning car?  I think
> of the movie Die Hard 4, which features some pretty unbelievable (but
> fun!) sequences, but I don't know many principles that can be used to
> determine just how unbelievable it is for Bruce Willis to, say, jump
> out of a car going 60mph and still survive, walk, and be ready for
> the next challenge, just to name one example.  Is there any data that
> might help, or any ideas from the list?
>
> btw, what reminded me about this now, was an article about a guy who
> seems to have survived a 47 story fall in NY.
>
> thanks,
>
>
> 		Brian Blais
>
> --
> Brian Blais
> bblais@bryant.edu
> http://web.bryant.edu/~bblais
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Forum for Physics Educators
> Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

Vern Lindberg
vern.lindberg@rit.edu
585-475-2546
http://www.rit.edu/~vwlsps/