Jumping

Jumping is a form of locomotion or movement in which an organism or non-living (e.g., robotic) mechanical system propels itself through the air along a ballistic trajectory. Jumping can be distinguished from running, galloping, and other gaits where the entire body is temporarily airborne, by the relatively long duration of the aerial phase and high angle of initial launch.

Types of Jumping

There are many types of jumps, including:

• Vertical Jump: This is where the jumper lifts their center of mass as high as possible.
• Broad Jump: This is where the athlete jumps horizontally as far as possible.
• Pole Vault: This is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to jump over a bar.
• High Jump: This is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it.

Jumping in Animals

Many animals, such as the kangaroo, use jumping as a primary means of locomotion. Other animals, such as the frog, use jumping as a means to escape predators.

Jumping in Humans

In humans, jumping is used in various sports, such as basketball and volleyball. It is also used in dance and in military training exercises.

Physics of Jumping

The physics of jumping, the process of pushing off the ground leading to the airborne phase for a jump, involves the application of force against a substrate, which in response exerts an equal and opposite force that propels the jumper away from the substrate.

See Also

• Hopping
• Leaping
• Bouncing

Jumping Resources
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