Why can you not jump off a falling object to break your momentum?

Question

Why can you not jump off a falling object to break your momentum?

In: 1

Answer 1

I assume you mean like the old question about a falling elevator, and if you jump up at the end you can save yourself. The problem is that you do indeed slow your falling speed slightly, and you transfer some momentum to the object you jump off of, but it’s not nearly enough to make a difference.