SciFi Q of the Day: Lunar Athletics

SciFi Question of the Day: How high/far could Earth’s finest athletes jump if they were on the moon? Let’s say they’re inside, unencumbered by spacesuits.

.Facebook Answers:

Juno Suk Isn’t the gravity 6 times lighter on the moon? I think that’s what I remember hearing a long time ago. So, if Earth’s finest athletes are basketball or volleyball players, they’d be able to jump around 40-50 inches times 6. 240 to 300 inches. Over 20 feet. Yikes.

Juno Suk Yup. It’s about 6 times. Here: http://www.universetoday.com/19710/gravity-on-the-moon/

Gravity on the Moon www.universetoday.com

Juno Suk I find it really cool that the article mentions that you could fly on the moon with wings attached. You should incorporate that on any lunar plot lines you use.

AmyBeth Fredricksen So it really would work as a direct conversion? 1/6 gravity means jumping 6 times farther?

Juno Suk That’s what the article is saying too. So looks like it may be right. I was wondering about that as well.

Dan Bressler Yeah, that’s right. The jump would last 6 times as long, so you’d go 6 times as far. It might be worth mentioning that the moon has several areas of positive gravitational anomalies – probably not significant for people working and living there, but enough to affect the orbit of spaceships.

AmyBeth Fredricksen Aren’t there twin satellites that just started studying those anomalies around new years?

Google Plus Answers:

Trevor Douglas – I had to look this up. the WR for the high jump on Earth is 2.45m (Javier Sotomayor, who has mass 80kg). Then, he jumped with enough energy to gain 80kg*9.8m/s/s*2.45m = 1920.8 J. Since g is 1/6 on the moon, he would take off with enough energy to push himself 6 times higher. Thus, the record for high jump on the moon would be 14.7 meters.

AmyBeth Inverness – So, it is a direct ratio? 1/6 gravity means jumping 6 times higher?

Trevor Douglas – Part of me wants to say no.. I mean if they were in zero-pressure outside or air pressure in side that could make a difference. There are probably other factors as well. But it is probably close.

AmyBeth Inverness – I hope I live to see the real experimental proof someday!

I would love to hear what you think! Even if you are reading this post a year or more after publishing, I hope you will leave a comment with your own ideas on this topic.