Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Sydney Bridge

SP and I have both come down with a bit of a cold. That, and the grey weather in Sydney, meant that we were limited on activities today. We decided that we would walk around Sydney and take a look at this bridge everyone is so proud of.
A good pic of the bridge (from this site)

My pic of the bridge (what can I say, I have a cold.)

While walking over the bridge we had an in depth discussion of how high a bridge needs to be in order to ensure death if you were to leap from it. (Purely from a scientific point of view, though I'm sure this is a perfectly normal conversation for two throat lozenge toting vancouverites stuck in a grey day while on vacation down under.)

The view from the bridge

For interest sake, the world record for successful high diving (which means you not only lived but you managed to extract yourself from the water unaided) is 53m or 172 ft.

Sizeable railings, aka "suicide guards"

In contrast, the Sydney Harbour Bridge deck is 82 m tall. And for the Vancouverites in the audience, the Burrard Street Bridge is 28 m tall whereas the Lionsgate is 61 m tall.

The Burrard Street Bridge (c/o wikipedia)

If you jump from 5 meters, you hit the water at ~36 km/h. (This is strong enough to possibly break bones or give you a concussion. This is also the tallest height for public swimmimg diving boards in BC.) From 10 m it's ~ 50 km/h. 28 m = 84 km/h. 82 m = 144 km/h. That's a lot of kinetic energy to dissipate in the water.

A bench in the middle of the bridge, for contemplation, perhaps.

Though some people have survived terminal velocity (anything above 450m of free fall, depending) the reality is that jumping from the Burrard Street Bridge is somewhat likely to kill you, whereas jumping from the Sydney Harbour Bridge almost certainly will.

The view from the bridge of the harbour.

You can also "climb the bridge" as part of a guided walk.
You are clipped in, however, JIC.

I'm sure you all really wanted to know this.

-E

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