Would a man clear an 18 foot deck if he jumped from the 26th floor?

Question

Please help a family feud.

My brother in law and I have a bet. We rent a condo on the 26th floor for vacation each year. I know this is weird but...

He says if I ran my fasted and I jumped off the balcony (no railing) of the 26th floor, He says…..I would not clear the 18 feet deck below us. He says some weird thing like…..once I fall, I stop moving outward and simply fall….he says that I need to be moving at Olympic speed. Please help. I think I could easily clear the 18 foot deck.

How fast to do need to be running for a typical 26th floor (18 foot deck) and at what mile per hour do I need to be running.

Thanks in advance.

Sean

Answer 1

Your brother is not correct.  Your lateral motion continues as you fall, however, 18 ft is a long long way to jump.  You woud have no advantage, jumping that far, by falling.

You'd probably splat on the deck.