April 9, 2012 First step's a doozer.

[infinite monkey]

See, I could totally do that. It looks like fun. Safer than the interstate.

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

See, I could totally do that. It looks like fun. Safer than the interstate.

Yeah, no one's been killed (yet) from jumping from that high up!

[glatt]

And a follow up question. Is terminal velocity variable depending on altitude? Seems like the air is thinner up there, and wouldn't slow you down as much. I would expect the jumper to accelerate quickly up to some terminal velocity, and gradually slow down slightly as the air got thicker, and then finally slow down a lot when the chute is deployed.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by glatt

And a follow up question. Is terminal velocity variable depending on altitude? Seems like the air is thinner up there, and wouldn't slow you down as much. I would expect the jumper to accelerate quickly up to some terminal velocity, and gradually slow down slightly as the air got thicker, and then finally slow down a lot when the chute is deployed.

... and a whole lot more when he snags on the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks.

[SPUCK]

Originally Posted by glatt

And a follow up question. Is terminal velocity variable depending on altitude? Seems like the air is thinner up there, and wouldn't slow you down as much. I would expect the jumper to accelerate quickly up to some terminal velocity, and gradually slow down slightly as the air got thicker, and then finally slow down a lot when the chute is deployed.

Yes! Absolutely. In fact so much so that once he gets up higher his terminal speed will exceed the speed of sound. And as you suggest the speed will continue to decrease down to the more pedestrian 120MPH near his landing/splatter* location.

* In this case the splatter will be confined to the inside of the special splatter bag. This will allow easy no-fuss cleanup.

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

... and a whole lot more when he snags on the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks.

Or. A unique speed-up if he is intercepted by a Pratt and Whitney somewhere.