> Therefore F = V sqrt(kM). > Cool formula! Awesome work! > Substituting weight for mass F = V sqrt( k w/g) where g = acceleration > of gravity. > F = 52.8 sqrt[ (1.6 * 300)/ (386.4) ] = 58.8 lb. Water tends to be horizontal, though. Or are you referring to the case where both boats become airborne and during the trip down one of them gets entagled in a tree? :-D The acceleration is the key factor here. And apparently you used the acceleration of gravity to find your k's. But I digress. The maximum acceleration that the human body can withstand for a very short period of time without suffering injury is 20 g's. So it is precisely the acceleration that we should be concerned about to find out k. Let us use F = M*a and your formula F = V sqrt(kM) then, equating the forces F=F M*a = V sqrt (kM) so a = V * sqrt(k/M) Doing some algebra k = a^2 * M/V given that a < 20 * g for a 70Kg person walking (without a kayak) at about 3 knots, which is about 1.5 m/s we need k < 9.81^2 * 70/1.5 then k < 4491.2 meter^2/second^3 There you have it, k for a spring to prevent injury on a towing paddler. Hey, you guys! wake up! class is over. :-D - Julio *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Oct 18 1999 - 14:27:44 PDT
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