Newton's Second Law of Motion:
If a net force acts on an object, it will cause acceleration of the object
NET FORCE= F(earth)-F(air resistance)= +
This force diagram shows how the force of gravity is greater than the force exerted by air resistance. Due to the fact that the object in motion is accelerating due to gravity, the force by the earth, or gravity, is greater than the force by air resistance, which is very little to begin with. The uneven forces cause the object in motion to be accelerating downwards. |
During the bungee jumper's fall, the bungee jumper is accelerating. The jumper falls at an increasing rate, due to the uneven forces acting on the object; the force of gravity and air resistance. Contrary to common belief, the acceleration of the bungee jumper is actually the highest at the point in which the bungee is completely stretched out. Acceleration is defined as the rate of change. During the fall of a bungee jumper, the velocity is constantly changing, at a rate knows as acceleration. At the point in which the bungee is completely stretched out, the velocity is zero, as explained in Newton's third law, and is getting ready to spring back upwards. The velocity changes from zero to a very high number when it shoots the bungee jumper back up. This change in velocity is so drastic, making it the highest rate of change in the system. This explains why the acceleration at this point is the highest.
For a visual explanation... |