Unlocking the Physics Behind Less Painful Belly Flops
Scientists at Brown University have conducted water experiments to gain insight into the impact force of bodies hitting the water, such as belly-flops. Surprisingly, they found that adding flexible springs to the impactor did not always soften the impact, sometimes even increasing the maximum force. The vibrations created by the impactor hitting the water caused the springs to vibrate, increasing the force of impact. This research has implications for improving designs of naval ships, seaplanes, projectiles, and underwater autonomous vehicles.