How does hitting water at a big height feel like landing on concrete?

Question

I failed all my science courses, I don’t understand much about science but why doesn’t the water just… move like when you jump in normally?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

It cannot get out of the way fast enough. You can try it yourself next time you’re swimming or with a basin of water. Slap the water. Just hit it with an open palm. It stings, like belly flops do. Very fast aircraft and rockets encounter similar problems with air. It’s all about how fast it can get out of the way.