why is jumping off a bridge often fatal, but people are rarely injured in high diving?
In: Physics
Two reasons.
1. Many bridges are [very high](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_the_United_States_by_height) above the water. The world record high-dive is 58.8 meters or ~193′. That’s on the low end of bridge heights – there are bridges in the US that are hundreds of feet above the water; the highest in the is 955 feet, but there are loads of bridges that are 3-400′ above the water all over the US. Because gravity accelerates you constantly doubling the height you fall means – not accounting for things like terminal velocity – you’re going much more than twice as fast when you hit bottom.
2. Most people who are high-diving are generally trained for it, specifically trained in how to land safely, and it’s generally only done in places where the water is deep enough to ensure a safe landing. Also, high-diving is generally attended by spectators, coaches, staff, etc, so any injuries that result can either be swiftly tended to or emergency services can be quickly called, whereas some rando jumping off a bridge probably isn’t doing it with a crowd watching them.
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