Name _________________________________________________
Period _______
Analysis of the Robbie Maddison Las Vegas Arc Jump
The Jump Up
100 ft
35 ft
40 ft
200 feet
42 feet
20 ft
Remember: All the distances must be converted to metric units!
1. Using a stopwatch, time how long it took Robbie to travel the first 200 feet to the base
of his ramp. Then calculate his average horizontal velocity in m/s. Convert your answer
to mph.
2. Robbie experienced large G-Forces on the take-off ramp. Use the following equation to
calculate the G-Force:
v2
9 .8 r
For the radius, r, use the average of the length and height of the ramp.
G
3. At the top of his parabolic jump arc, what is his vertical velocity?
4. Jumping off the ramp, his velocity was projected at approximately 70 0 above the
horizontal. Use this information along with the two velocities from questions 1 and 3 to
calculate the time it took him to reach the top of his parabolic arc.
5. Calculate his maximum height above the ground.
6. It was established that Robbie reached a maximum height of approximately 105 feet
above the ground. How favorably does your result compare to that?
7. Knowing that the Paris Arc structure is 100 feet tall, now determine the time needed for
him to fall from his highest point unto the structure. Use the height you calculated in
question 5.
8. From the video, you can see that he landed about in the middle of the Arc structure.
Therefore, knowing the total horizontal distance between the top of his take-off ramp
and the spot where he landed, as well as the total time he was in the air, calculate his
horizontal velocity coming off the ramp. This is vx. Give your answer in both m/s and
mph.
The Jump Back Down
Landing spot
55 ft
100 ft
600
20 ft
x
1. Using a stopwatch, time how long it took Robbie to free fall from the top of the Arc
structure onto his landing ramp.
2. Knowing that his initial vertical velocity was zero, calculate how far he fell. Give your
answer in both meters and feet.
3. Calculate his vertical velocity when he hit the ramp. Give your answer in both m/s and
mph.
4. Use trigonometry and the dimensions of the landing ramp to determine the horizontal
position, labeled “x” in the diagram, of his landing. Give your answer in both feet and
meters.
5. Now, knowing his horizontal landing spot, and the dimensions of the ramp as given in
the diagram, you can determine his horizontal velocity coming off the Arc. Give your
answer in both m/s and mph.
6. Finally, as you look at the diagram, notice that the upper portion of his sloped landing
ramp is 55 feet down and 20 feet out horizontally from the edge of the Arc. Use those
dimensions to calculate the minimum horizontal velocity he would have needed in order
to have safely reached the upper portion of his sloped landing ramp. At a speed less
than this, he would have crashed on the flat section of the ramp. Give your answer in
both m/s and mph.
Resources/references:
http://espn.go.com/action/news/story?id=3728874
http://www.redbullusa.com/newyearnolimits