1 Felix Baumgartner’s record freefall jump

Watch Video 1, which shows Felix Baumgartner achieving the freefall record during his successful attempt at the jump world record on 14 October 2012.

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Transcript: Video 1 Felix Baumgartner’s world record jump.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[CHATTER]

[SIDE CONVERSATION]

CONTROLLER:

It's still climbing. And will still start moving here in a little bit.

We release!

[CHEERING]

[MUSIC - TWIN ATLANTIC, "FREE"]

If you're scared then walk away. Because there's no need to feel ashamed. Yeah, we all feel the same. Whoa, where's your passion? Where's your fire tonight? Whoa, I can't believe there's nothing you're willing to hide.

[RADIO SQUELCH]

FELIX BAUMGARTNER:

Right now the whole world is watching us.

[MUSIC - TWIN ATLANTIC, "FREE"]

I set my body on fire so I could be free.

FELIX BAUMGARTNER:

I'm going

[INAUDIBLE]

CONTROLLER:

Jumping away.

[HEAVY BREATHING]

Speed 725. Showing Felix in a stable descent.

[APPLAUSE]

[CHEERING]

And Felix is back to Earth safely, the new world record holder.

[APPLAUSE]

[WHISTLING]

[CHEERING]

End transcript: Video 1 Felix Baumgartner’s world record jump.

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Video 1 Felix Baumgartner’s world record jump.

Figure 1 shows the jump in more detail. Using the details from Figure 1 and Video 1, complete Activity 1.

Figure 1 Felix Baumgartner’s world record jump.

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This is an image of Felix Baumgartner's world jump record in 2012. He started from an altitude of 39 045 m (128 100 feet) when he jumped from the capsule. The previous record was 31 332 m. By the time Felix had fallen to the Stratosphere he had achieved a speed of 833.9 mph (Mach 1.24 where he broke the sound barrier). He then passed the next significant altitude of 13 000 m labelled as the flight of a Boeing 747, then 8 848 m labelled as Mount Everest. At an altitude of 2 516 m his parachute opened and he landed after a total jump duration time of 9 minutes and 3 seconds.

Figure 1 Felix Baumgartner’s world record jump.

Baumgartner’s maximum speed in freefall was also his terminal velocity. This means he was no longer accelerating as the forces acting on were balanced. There were two main forces acting on him – Earth’s gravity and air resistance, each acting in opposite directions (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Balanced vertical forces on Felix Baumgartner at terminal vertical velocity.

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This is a coloured photograph of the balanced forces acting on Felix Baumgartner’s body during freefall. He is shown in position horizontal to the Earth’s surface. He has reached terminal velocity. A downwards arrow to the Earth is labelled as the gravitational force equalling the force of air resistance; an upwards arrow away from the Earth shows that Baumgartner’s speed is constant, he neither accelerates nor does he slow down.

Figure 2 Balanced vertical forces on Felix Baumgartner at terminal vertical velocity.

Obviously, it would be too dangerous to land at his maximum speed! Therefore, a parachute was deployed at 2516 m. This increased the air resistance. The forces then became unbalanced. Baumgartner’s speed then reduced until the forces were balanced again. At this stage, a lower (and much safer!) terminal velocity was reached (Figure 3). Remember the end of Video 1 where he appears to step calmly onto Earth?

Figure 3 Balanced vertical forces on Felix Baumgartner after his parachute opened - terminal vertical velocity again reached.

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This is a coloured photograph of Felix Baumgartner after his parachute opened and terminal velocity has been reached again. An arrow upwards from the Earth's surface indicates that the forces of gravity and air resistance are in balance. A downwards arrow indicates that Baumgartner is neither accelerating or slowing down, his speed is constant.

Figure 3 Balanced vertical forces on Felix Baumgartner after his parachute opened - terminal vertical velocity again reached.

During his freefall, Baumgartner was effectively in a microgravity environment. He was falling to Earth in the same way that the ISS and the Moon fall to Earth. Clearly, this is too dangerous (and expensive) to replicate for reliable scientific research, so instead drop towers are used, as you will see next.