Would Batman have killed Vicki Vale?

Discussion in 'Physics & Math' started by Socratic Spelunker, Oct 14, 2011.

  1. Socratic Spelunker Registered Senior Member

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    At the end of this video...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjVmHNeB4k

    ...it shows Batman saving Vicki Vale from a fall.

    I don't know much about g-force and such, but I know that when skydiving, there is no way you can hold onto someone tight enough to save them from the fall if their chute doesn't open. You have to link their arms through your straps, but even then you'll dislocate their arms.

    But even then, you're not coming to a complete stop. In the film, they come to a complete stop. Wouldn't that have killed them both?

    If possible, I need some reputable sources regarding this.

    Thank you.
     
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  3. MacGyver1968 Fixin' Shit that Ain't Broke Valued Senior Member

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    Not according to comic book physics...as long as you stop before the ground...you're perfectly safe. In the real world...not so much.

    In the clip, they both fall for approximately 8 seconds. So that would be:

    v[sub]f[/sub] = (9.8 m/s[sup]2[/sup]) * (8 s) = 78.4 m/s (not counting for air resistance)

    and stop in less than 1 sec. Not sure how to calculate the g's of that...but I would bet it would more than enough to pull Batman's arm from his socket.

    I would guess one of the following things would happen:

    1. Batman holds on cable with his hand, which is ripped from his grip, or holds on, and his arm is ripped off.. and they both fall to their deaths
    2. Batman attaches the cable to his belt, and nearly ripped into by his utility belt, Vicki Vale is ripped from his arms and both die
    3. The cable breaks and they both die.

    In real life, they pretty much both die no matter what.

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    Last edited: Oct 14, 2011
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  5. Tach Banned Banned

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    it is 8g or more. not deadly.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2011
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  7. Socratic Spelunker Registered Senior Member

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    In a real scenario, would he be able to hang onto her (not counting any "super strength crap from his suit)?

    Or would her weight pull her out of his grip?
     
  8. AlexG Like nailing Jello to a tree Valued Senior Member

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    Lois Lane falls from the top of a building. Superman flies up and catches her. Wouldn't Lois be subject to same decelleration forces as she would hitting the ground? It's not like she's being slowed to a stop. She's falling, and then intersects something which immediately stops, and even reverses, the fall. Doesn't that break her somewhat?
     
  9. Asguard Kiss my dark side Valued Senior Member

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    we were taught that, in a low speed (35-40 km\h) car crash a weight like a baby hits your arms at 4 times there normal weight which is more than enough to rip a child out of your arms and splatter it all over the windscreen.

    An adverage women is what 50-60 kg times 4 equals 200-280kgs.
     
  10. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    Comic book physics, yay XD

    Though, admittedly... in a life-or-death situation (such as a chute failure) I reckon the body, pumped up with enough adrenaline, could manage to cling to someone else even with the shock of a chute opening... Adrenaline allows you to do some crazy things that, really, just shouldn't be workable XD
     
  11. Asguard Kiss my dark side Valued Senior Member

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    BTW im surprised there is actually a procidure to follow if your shoot fails. To bad if your the last one pulling your shoot though
     
  12. Socratic Spelunker Registered Senior Member

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    I guess this question is moot since their combined weight would rip the grappling hook from his hand.
     

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