• Question: why does it not hurt when you land on your back on a trampoline?

    Asked by maxalvers007 to clairemarieroberts, Faye, Martin, Mus, Pete on 24 Apr 2012.
    • Photo: Pete Etchells

      Pete Etchells answered on 24 Apr 2012:

      Hi maxalvers007! I think this is a question best suited to a Physicist, but I’ll try to answer it for you! I think it’s because of the springs and stretchy base of the trampoline. When you land on the trampoline after a jump, energy gets transferred into the springs. This energy then gets transferred back into the base to try and return it to its original shape, which has the effect of bouncing you upwards. If the base wasn’t stretchy, the easiest place for the energy to go when you landed would be back into you (for example, your back), which might cause it to break.

      Hope that answers your question, and sorry I don’t know more!

    • Photo: Faye Didymus

      Faye Didymus answered on 24 Apr 2012:

      What a good question! The simple answer is that landing correctly on your back on a trampoline shouldn’t hurt because the springy trampoline bed will cushion your landing and then spring you back into the air. If you land slightly wrong though, it could be really dangerous so make sure you have the correct supervision and plenty of spotters if you’re trying tricks like that!

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