In February 1955, a paratrooper fell 366 m from an airplane without being able t
ID: 1774642 • Letter: I
Question
In February 1955, a paratrooper fell 366 m from an airplane without being able to open his chute but happened to land in snow, suffering only minor injuries. Assume that his speed at impact was 60 m/s (terminal speed), that his mass (including gear) was 90kg, and that the force on him from the snow was at the survivable limit of 1.2 105 N.
(a) What is the minimum depth of snow that would have stopped him safely?
______m
(b) What is the magnitude of the impulse on him from the snow?
_______ kg · m/s
Explanation / Answer
F = ma
120000 N = 90(a)
a=1333.33
use
Vf2 = Vo2 -2ad
to determine the depth of snow d,
Vf=0
V0=60m/s
a=1333.33 ,so
3600=2*1333.33*d
d=1.35m
b)
impulse is change in mometum so,
90(60-0)
=5400