Are there physics behind bungee jumping?

Answer 1

The energy changes that happen during a bungee jump are:

• Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE) changes into elastic potential energy and kinetic energy as the string starts to stretch and the person starts to fall.
• When the person is at the bottom, GPE is changed into elastic potential energy as the string is stretched further.
• As the person rebounds, elastic potential energy is changed into kinetic energy and GPE as the person moves upwards and they get higher.

Answer 2

The idea of impulse-momentum is very key in bungee jumping. Sometimes someone will convince someone to do it, but they are still scared, and their impulse telling them to do it or not is important in driving them to jump.

Answer 3

Yes, e.g. gravity, mass, wind-resistance, elasticity, kinetic energy, thermal energy, periodic motion (pendulum) etc.

More details:

At the top of the bungee jump there is gravitational potential energy. As the bungee jumper falls, he gains kinetic energy. During the fall, energy is wasted as heat (thermal energy). As the bungee cord is stretched, it gains elastic potential energy.