I have no problem with how divers flip (rotation around an axis
perpendicular to the body) but I'm still confused about this twisting
business (rotation around an axis parallel to the body). I get the
impression it has been "explained" but I still don't get it.
At first glance, the twisting seems to be analogous to standing still on
the center of a rotating platform (we happen to have one here in a
classroom) and then being able to rotate through some contortion of the
body. Now I can do this but only by extending my arms then swinging my
arms one way to make my body go the other then bringing my arms back in
and returning my arms to their original position. This is a very slow
process. The divers don't seem to be doing this. Apparently a crucial
element has something to do with the whole body rotating around an axis
perpendicular to the body at the same time they attempt the rotation
around an axis parallel to the body but I just don't see it.
I'm hoping someone can tell me in simple terms what I am missing.
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| Robert Cohen Department of Physics |
| East Stroudsburg University |
| bbq@esu.edu East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 |
| http://www.esu.edu/~bbq/ (570) 422-3428 |
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