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.