Re: MOUNTAIN DEW / Free fall?

["A. R. Marlow" <marlow@loyno.edu>]

> ...
> Here's the question:  If she is in free fall, will the drink REALLY pour
> from the can? ... 


While skydivers refer to their situation as "free fall," they are actually
in a state of "fully supported fall."  After the first second or so of
fall the air resistance will have built up to equal the weight of the
skydiver, and from then on they remain essentially at unaccelerated
terminal speed (something usually in excess of 100 mph) until they open
their parachutes.  The atmosphere supports them as fully as if they were
floating in a swimming pool.  Hence, anything they pour from a can will
accelerate relative to them, and behave just as it would if they were
pouring it on earth's surface, so I think the commercial is accurate in
that respect. 

A. R. Marlow                          E-MAIL:  marlow@loyno.edu
Department of Physics, Box 124        PHONE:   (504) 865 3647  (Office)  
Loyola University                                    865 2245  (Home)
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