Falling onto a cushioned or sand bed in a high jump event increases the time over which the athlete’s fall comes to a stop after making the jump. This decreases the rate of change of momentum and consequently reduces the force experienced by the athlete upon impact.
How does falling onto a cushioned or sand bed in a high jump event reduce the force experienced by an athlete?
Share
Falling onto a cushioned or sand bed in a high jump event reduces the force experienced by an athlete through an increase in the time of deceleration. According to the impulse-momentum theorem (Δp = F × Δt), a longer duration (Δt) of deceleration results in a smaller force (F) needed to bring the athlete to a stop. The cushioned surface increases the time it takes for the athlete to come to rest, distributing the force over a more extended period. This minimizes the peak force exerted on the athlete, reducing the risk of injury compared to a sudden and rigid landing surface.