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When you jump, you push on Earth as Earth pushes on you

When people jump, Earth and the jumpers exchange momentum, but their very different masses produce very different changes in motion. A simplified model can follow takeoff and landing without predicting a real earthquake or lasting orbital nudge.

3–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • What would change during takeoff, and what would happen when the jumpers returned?
  • Why can equal and opposite forces give Earth and a jumper very different accelerations?

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How can a ship made of steel float?

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When you jump, you push on Earth as Earth pushes on you | Speech Topic | speaking.app