There is a common belief that jumping in a free-falling elevator just before it hits the ground can save you from any injuries. Is there any truth to this claim?
For urban dwellers, especially those living in skyscrapers, elevators have become an essential part of their daily lives. It is the only practical way for someone living on the 25th floor to reach their apartment without exhausting themselves every day.
Imagine having to climb up 25 flights of stairs every day just to get to your own home. Not only would it be physically demanding, but it would also be dangerous. If you were to injure your back during the climb, the view from your apartment would not be worth it.
However, elevators can be intimidating to some, and their fear is not unfounded. When you step into an elevator, you enter an enclosed metal box that relies on machinery and electricity. This raises a natural question: what happens if there is a power failure while you’re inside the elevator?
There is a popular idea or “rumor” that circulates from time to time regarding elevators. It suggests that if you are in a free-falling elevator, you can jump at the exact moment it hits the ground to save your life or reduce the severity of your injuries.
While this may sound intriguing, is there any truth to it?
Understanding Free-Falling Elevators
An elevator is considered to be in free fall when it descends through the levels of the shaft without the control or safety systems. In other words, being in a free-falling elevator is extremely dangerous. It becomes even worse when you are inside the elevator as it plummets towards the ground. Elevators rely on various systems to safely transport passengers between different levels of a building. These safety systems ensure that the elevator remains in place and the passengers are protected. However, due to technical issues, these systems may malfunction, although the chances of this happening are very low.
If you happen to be in an elevator that is free-falling towards the ground, what would happen?
Remaining Stationary in a Free-Falling Elevator
When an elevator is in free fall, the only force acting on it is gravity. As a result, the elevator descends with an acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared, which is the standard acceleration due to gravity. Since you are inside the elevator, you will also be moving downward at the same velocity as the elevator.
It is important to note that this only applies when you are standing still, without any movement, in the free-falling elevator.
Leaping When the Elevator Hits the Ground
Credit: Denis_A/Shutterstock
Imagine you just left a Physics class and stepped into an elevator that is now free-falling towards the Earth. As it approaches the ground, you time your jump and leap! Quite a feat in that moment of panic, but would it actually make a difference?
No.
Let’s consider the factors at play here. Firstly, it would be nearly impossible for you to accurately determine which floor you are level with during a free-fall. In the event of a power outage, how would you know the exact moment to jump? Even if, by some stroke of luck, you jumped at the precise moment, would you be able to walk away without any harm?
No, you would still sustain injuries. The severity of these injuries would depend on the height from which you fell; the higher the fall, the greater the acceleration and force of impact, resulting in more severe injuries.
Why is Jumping Ineffective?
Firstly, the force with which you would collide with the ground depends on your momentum. Momentum is simply the product of your mass and velocity. If the elevator has been falling for a longer duration, the injuries would be much more severe. More time in free fall = more momentum = greater overall damage.
Additionally, if you jumped even slightly before the elevator hit the ground, you would hit your head on the ceiling of the elevator, causing even more harm. Even if you jumped at the exact moment of impact, your velocity would only change minimally. This slight change in velocity would not significantly affect the severity of the injuries you would sustain.
After understanding all of this, do not let anyone convince you that jumping in a free-falling elevator is a foolproof method to avoid injuries; there is absolutely no way to emerge from such a disaster unharmed, unless you are extremely lucky. However, do not worry! Elevators are extremely safe. Relax and enjoy the ride!