Michael Jordan holds the record in vertical jump in the NBA history. He could ju
ID: 3000831 • Letter: M
Question
Michael Jordan holds the record in vertical jump in the NBA history. He could jump 48 inches vertically (for example, Kobe Bryant has 38 inches leap, Dwight Howard 39.5 inches and LeBron James 44 inches). How much time did Jordan spend in the top 6 inches of the jump and how much time in the bottom 6 inches of the jump? In your own words, explain why basketball players seem to be suspended in air when they jump?
a(t)= -g (gravity) = -32 ft/s
V(t)= -32t +Vo: Vo= initial velocity (depends on the player)
s(t) = -16t^2+ Vo t +So: So= 0 (jumps from ground level)
Explanation / Answer
v=-32t +v0
at the top ,48 inches from the ground
v=0 , vo=32t
s=48inches
46=-16t2 + (32t)t
16t2 =48
t =1.732 sec
v0=55.43 ft/s
top 6: 6=16 t2 implies t=0.612 sec;
bottom 6: 6= 55.03(t)-16t2
solving the quadratic gives t= 0.111sec
he'll stay in the air in the top 6 inches for about 2* 0.612 =1.224 sec (combining up and down )
this is y he seems suspended in the air