Re:Apparently NASA does not obey the laws of physi (Score 1)

Uhh, physics troll? h = gt^2/2; t = sqrt(2h/g); v = gt = g(sqrt(2h/g)) = sqrt(2gh) = 47 feet per sec = 32 mph. Not sure yet how you get more energy out of an inclined plane, but work it. Anyway, http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/helo-droptest.html says: "We crash-tested the helicopter by suspending it about 35 feet (10.7 m) into the air using cables. Then, as it swung to the ground, we used pyrotechnics to remove the cables just before the helicopter hit so that it reacted like it would in a real accident," she explained. The test conditions imitated what would be a relatively severe helicopter crash. The flight path angle was about 33 degrees and the combined forward and vertical speeds were about 48 feet per second or 33 miles per hour (14.6 meters per second, 53.1 kph).