What Is Bungee Jumping?

By Author: Tracy Barb
Total Articles: 70
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Bungee Jumping is a favorite adventure for many travelers. It gives utmost amusement and great pleasure. Physicists say that the dramatic demonstration of Bungee jumping is the conversion of energy. Let see the information behind this popular adventure called Bungee Jumping in this article.

The history of bungee jumping starts here. It is a recent activity related to the centuries old ritualistic practice. It came from the "Land divers" of Pentecost Island. People did this activity as an offering to the God. Men demonstrated their courage and offered the injuries to their gods for an abundant harvest they received. That's where the habit of somersaulting starts.

The member of Oxford University Dangerous Sport club got inspired by the film "Vine Jumpers" in England thereby he introduced this new recreational activity called "Bungee Jumping" in April 1979. This sport is popular among people of New Zealand and France in 1980. Later, John and Peter Kockelman brought this to United States. In 1990s, it was the amusing sport loved by people all around the world. Proper facilities had been established in various countries ...
... and professional trainers help you to enjoy the jumping amusement to the full extent.

Equipment required:

Special cords are manufacturing for Bungee Jumping according to the theory in Physics. It can be stretched to three or four times of their normal length. They are soft and springy cords. The harnesses are derived from the mountain climbing equipment. It does the work as the carabiner which is the primary link between the cord and the harness.

These days, the protection facilities are high. They use redundant connection, double hookups to the jumpers, the body harness, the chest and shoulder harnesses.

The proper match of Cord and Jumper should produce maximum accelerations of the order of 3'gs. For instance, the bungee cord should be about 9 m free length for the jump height of approximately 28m.

Safety measures:

Initially there was no proper idea about the facilities. This activity killed 3 jumpers in France and few dreadful accidents in Australia and United States. Hence, the government of these countries banned this sport. An Engineer, who operates Sky Tower Engineering Inc., researched about the deaths. His report says that accidents occurred due to the improper attachment of cord and jumper, mismatch, total height of jump, miscalculation of physics and other lapses. The errors are on the side of Man. But basically the game is safe if all the measurements are proper. So before it was so dangerous but now the protection facilities are high. There are professional training provided to participate in bungee jumping. Most of the dangerous incidents happened not because of the faulty equipments but by human error.

These days jump has seen no serious injuries. Jumpers follow the rules properly and we can see many people enjoy somersaulting without any injuries. There is an age limit to participate in this game.

It is a wonderful sport that everyone can enjoy without any fear. It is amazing lifting up to the clouds and falling down.

Tracy Barb has written many travel guides. GuideGecko is an online travel bookstore helps with lonely planet guide books and singapore tourist guides at best price.