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| ''For other meanings of ''fall'', see ]'' | :''For other meanings of ''fall'', see ]. For the card game of this name, see ]. For the UK Parliamentary constituency see ]'' | ||
| ---- | ---- | ||
| '''Falling''' is movement due to ]. By analogy, ''falling'' has other uses not directly related to gravity. | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| ⚫ | ==Sensation== | ||
| {{unreferenced|section}} | |||
| {{further|]}} | |||
| A ] of '''falling''' occurs when the ] or ''vestibular apparatus'', a system of fluid-filled passages in the ], detects motion. The same system also detects rotary motion. A similar sensation of falling can be induced when the eyes detect rapid apparent motion with respect to the environment. This system enables us to keep our balance by signalling when a physical correction is necessary. | A ] of '''falling''' occurs when the ] or ''vestibular apparatus'', a system of fluid-filled passages in the ], detects motion. The same system also detects rotary motion. A similar sensation of falling can be induced when the eyes detect rapid apparent motion with respect to the environment. This system enables us to keep our balance by signalling when a physical correction is necessary. | ||
| When a human is in ] in an ] ], or in an ] in a steep dive, the sensation of falling is constant, and the sensation of there being an "up" and a "down" is missing or much attenuated. Some medical conditions, known as ]s, also induce the sensation of falling. | When a human is in ] in an ] ], or in an ] in a steep dive, the sensation of falling is constant, and the sensation of there being an "up" and a "down" is missing or much attenuated. Some medical conditions, known as ]s, also induce the sensation of falling. | ||
| == |
==Accidents== | ||
| '''Falling''' is a major cause of personal injury, especially for the ] whose bones have grown brittle |
'''Falling''' is a major cause of ], especially for the ] whose bones have grown brittle, and for workers such as ]s and ]s. The ] estimate (2002) that 392,000 people die in falls every year. ] survived a fall from 33,000ft without a parachute.{{fact}} | ||
| ===Falls from buildings=== | |||
| Injuries resulting in falls from buildings vary depending of the building's height, and also depend on the type of person (infant, child, adult, elderly adult, etc.) Falls from the second floor usually result in injuries, but are not fatal. <ref name="Falling1">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-3774828 | year = }} </ref><ref name="Falling2">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title = http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=3195460 | year = }} </ref> Around the fifth floor is when falls begin to get fatal, as there are reports of injuries resulting -- most non-fatal falls occur when the person lands on something (i.e. third floor balcony, etc.) and most fatal falls occur when the fall (usually of an infant or child) is directly to the ground<ref name="Falling3">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E4DA1430F936A35750C0A961958260 | year = }} </ref> <ref name="Falling4">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060506/ai_n16354239 | year = }} </ref> <ref name="Falling5">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20030924/ai_n10908364 | year = }} </ref> <ref name="Falling6">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://xo.typepad.com/blog/2004/08/img_alt_srchttp_247.html | year = }} </ref>. Eighth floor level falls are usually fatal unless cushioned during the fall<ref name="Falling7">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/12/30/story82451.asp | year = }} </ref><ref name="Falling8">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title = | year = }} </ref><ref name="Falling9">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5222644.stm | year = }} </ref>. Falls from at and above the tenth floor of a building are almost always fatal<ref name="Falling10">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E5DD103AF934A15755C0A96F958260 | year = }} </ref><ref name="Falling11">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://www.nriinternet.com/NRI_Murdered/ASIA/Russia/1_NRI_death_inMoscow.htm | year = }} </ref><ref name="Falling12">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://www-tech.mit.edu/V118/N13/adeath.13n.html | year = }} </ref>. Apparently, cats have a higher chance of falling from the twentieth floor of a building than from the seventh floor.<ref name="Falling13">{{cite journal | first = | last =| | title =http://www.doghause.com/tidbits.asp | year = }} </ref> | |||
| ===Falls from cliffs=== | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| ⚫ | {{sect-stub}} | ||
| Falls from cliffs are more commonly fatal than falls from apartment buildings because most cliffs are taller. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Classical physics== | ||
| {{further|]}} | |||
| {{unreferenced|section}} | |||
| '''Falling''' is descent under ]. All objects have ] and in the presence of sufficiently massive objects such as ]s or ]s they experience a strong attraction due to gravity. This is known as ]. If the force of gravity is not equalized by an opposite force directed away from the planet, the object will start to fall towards the ] of the system--in effect, towards the center of the planet. The acceleration of gravity is directly ] to the mass of the planet. The planet will also fall towards the center of the system but, if the object is much less massive than the planet, this motion is imperceptible. | '''Falling''' is descent under ]. All objects have ] and in the presence of sufficiently massive objects such as ]s or ]s they experience a strong attraction due to gravity. This is known as ]. If the force of gravity is not equalized by an opposite force directed away from the planet, the object will start to fall towards the ] of the system--in effect, towards the center of the planet. The acceleration of gravity is directly ] to the mass of the planet. The planet will also fall towards the center of the system but, if the object is much less massive than the planet, this motion is imperceptible. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 28: | ||
| In the presence of an ], the conditions for free fall are broken and the object will experience ], and the speed at which it falls towards the planet is subject to a ] when the force due to drag equalizes the force of gravity. Note that in common usage the term ''free fall'' does not take account of atmospheric drag. | In the presence of an ], the conditions for free fall are broken and the object will experience ], and the speed at which it falls towards the planet is subject to a ] when the force due to drag equalizes the force of gravity. Note that in common usage the term ''free fall'' does not take account of atmospheric drag. | ||
| == |
==Mathematics== | ||
| In ], the word '''falling''' describes a ] value that decreases with respect to ] or another variable. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <references/> | |||
| ⚫ | {{sect-stub}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 03:23, 13 September 2006
- For other meanings of fall, see fall (disambiguation). For the card game of this name, see Falling (game). For the UK Parliamentary constituency see Belfast Falls (UK Parliament constituency)
Falling is movement due to gravity. By analogy, falling has other uses not directly related to gravity.
Sensation
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Falling" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
A sensation of falling occurs when the labyrinth or vestibular apparatus, a system of fluid-filled passages in the inner ear, detects motion. The same system also detects rotary motion. A similar sensation of falling can be induced when the eyes detect rapid apparent motion with respect to the environment. This system enables us to keep our balance by signalling when a physical correction is necessary.
When a human is in free fall in an orbiting spacecraft, or in an aircraft in a steep dive, the sensation of falling is constant, and the sensation of there being an "up" and a "down" is missing or much attenuated. Some medical conditions, known as balance disorders, also induce the sensation of falling.
Accidents
Falling is a major cause of personal injury, especially for the elderly whose bones have grown brittle, and for workers such as builders and miners. The WHO estimate (2002) that 392,000 people die in falls every year. Vesna Vulovi? survived a fall from 33,000ft without a parachute.
Falls from buildings
Injuries resulting in falls from buildings vary depending of the building's height, and also depend on the type of person (infant, child, adult, elderly adult, etc.) Falls from the second floor usually result in injuries, but are not fatal. Around the fifth floor is when falls begin to get fatal, as there are reports of injuries resulting -- most non-fatal falls occur when the person lands on something (i.e. third floor balcony, etc.) and most fatal falls occur when the fall (usually of an infant or child) is directly to the ground . Eighth floor level falls are usually fatal unless cushioned during the fall. Falls from at and above the tenth floor of a building are almost always fatal. Apparently, cats have a higher chance of falling from the twentieth floor of a building than from the seventh floor.
Falls from cliffs
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. |
Falls from cliffs are more commonly fatal than falls from apartment buildings because most cliffs are taller.
Classical physics
Further information: ] | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Falling" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Falling is descent under gravity. All objects have mass and in the presence of sufficiently massive objects such as planets or moons they experience a strong attraction due to gravity. This is known as weight. If the force of gravity is not equalized by an opposite force directed away from the planet, the object will start to fall towards the center of mass of the system--in effect, towards the center of the planet. The acceleration of gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the planet. The planet will also fall towards the center of the system but, if the object is much less massive than the planet, this motion is imperceptible.
The way in which an object moves under gravity (not necessarily a descent), in the absence of other forces, is known as free fall, and is described by a conic section whose parameters are dependent on the object's initial velocity. If the speed is above the escape velocity, and the object has no downward vertical component, the force of gravity is not enough to reverse the motion away from the planet and it will continue indefinitely on its path away from the planet. Otherwise it will fall back towards the planet and may go into orbit around it or collide with it.
In the presence of an atmosphere, the conditions for free fall are broken and the object will experience atmospheric drag, and the speed at which it falls towards the planet is subject to a terminal velocity when the force due to drag equalizes the force of gravity. Note that in common usage the term free fall does not take account of atmospheric drag.
Mathematics
In mathematics, the word falling describes a scalar value that decreases with respect to time or another variable.
References
- "http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-3774828".
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