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| This makes total sense. Its the reason why ski-jumpers and freestyle skiers/snowboarders always have steep landing for the jumps.
Essentially if you fall on a flat surface the vector which the impact force acts through is straight into the ground. If the ground is at an angle the force is effectively reduced due to the angle. Also when the ground is at an abgle the likelihood is that you will slide and dissipate some of the energy of the fall rather then hitting straight into the slope.
I'm sure anyone who ski's regularly has fallen on both steep and flat slopes. Think about which hurt the most. Not which scared you the most... but which actually led to most pain. | |
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There's also the gradual de-acceleration of the body on the slope (you don't tend to gradually stop) rather than the sudden stop you get on the flat.
The parachute landing fall uses the same principle to slow the de-acceleration of the body on impact to near on a second rather than instantaneously.
And the Judo roll.....etc
All this gradual slowing down is much better for the body - but essential for the brain's survival.
As an aside, this does remind me of the air hostess who fell out of a plane and survived the fall by landing on a very steep snow slope.