4. Explain the function of the spring floor with respect to Newton’s
first law for linear motion with
respect to conservation of linear momentum
(mGvG-MSFVSF) = (mGvG-MSFVSF) before
contacting after contacting floor
for take-off floor for take-off
I think that the
conservation of mechanical energy is very important in this
section, probably more so than
conservation of momentum. Momentum is conserved
only for the short time during which the impact of the diver on the
springboard first occurs. Otherwise,
when the diver is rising of falling, or the springboard
is changing shape, energy conservation must be used, in the form
(KE + PE)1 = (KE + PE)2, where
subscripts 1 and 2 refer to two different times.
For example, energy is conserved while the diver is in the air, and this
allows you to relate the maximum height
to the velocity when the diver hits.
Then the kinetic energy of the diver and the board are related to the
maximum deformation of
the board, because this deformation gives the board potential
energy.