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Physics of a Trampoline

Cvankerkhove

Entry posted by Cvankerkhove

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A very fun activity to do on a sunny day is jump on a trampoline. Fun for all ages, a trampoline makes it easy to get major air. What exactly is behind this mechanism of a trampoline flinging a person into the air? Well let's talk physics in terms of energy.

Let's say that our reference level is where one stands on the trampoline. As soon as a person stands on a trampoline the webbing is stretched and sinks down to equilibrium. This is similar to our lab experiment of placing a mass on a vertical hanging spring. Now once a person stretches below equilibrium (by pressing down a force and/or jumping up) the fun begins. A person has a potential energy at the top of their jump, and this is converted into kinetic energy as they move, which is then turned into spring potential energy, when a person stretches below equilibrium level. 

This idealogy is the basic physical concept of a trampoline. With this knowledge a person can incorporate cool and crazy tricks to do on a trampoline. 

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5 Comments

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ajgartland22

ajgartland22 0

Posted

a really cool take on something you really dont think too much about!

VagueIncentive

VagueIncentive 0

Posted

I spent a lot of time as a kid on a trampoline, and now knowing the full mechanics behind it is really interesting. Good post!

michaelkennedy

michaelkennedy 0

Posted

Thanks Chris. All of this information about trampolines EXCEPT how to do a frontflip. :mad:

Happy

Happy 0

Posted

We all use trampolines, but now I understand how they work completely!

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