Index :
1. Methods for identifying "ballon".
How can it be proven that Bob Beamon's jump constituted an anomalous phenomenon from the standpoint of physics? How can it be proven that the "ballon effect" is not an illusion, but rather a genuine anomalous physical phenomenon? How can this ballon be seen?
Let us recall the description of *ballon*. Both in ballet and—as described by Igor Ter-Ovanesyan - "ballon" is consistently characterized as a "suspension" in mid-air. This constitutes significant evidence. In other words, "ballon" is not merely the effect of a reduction in the gravitational pull exerted upon the dancer or athlete. Were that the case, no one would perceive any anomaly in the jump itself; the duration of the jump would change by only a few percent - a difference too subtle to be detected. A true "suspension" would not occur simply as a result of diminished gravitational attraction. Rather, the suspension associated with "ballon" signifies a modification of the jump's trajectory. This implies that the "ballon" effect manifests itself only when a horizontal component of motion is present—that is, it is an effect that becomes apparent exclusively during horizontal movement executed across the gravitational field.
The duration of the jump—assuming the individual jumps strictly upward—remains unchanged. Why? We do not know. However, in the case of a vertical jump, the "ballon effect" does not occur. This is an experimentally established fact.
Our phenomenological model of the ballon effect likewise indicates an absence of mid-air suspension and an invariance in jump duration during a strictly vertical jump. Yet, this phenomenological model does not explain the underlying cause of this phenomenon; it provides merely a mathematical description of the motion involved in the jump.
Conversely, during a long jump, the ballon effect does take place. Thanks to this effect, the time spent in the air increases, the length of the jump is extended, and the trajectory of the jump is altered, becoming asymmetrical. This latter feature is readily observable. It is precisely this characteristic of the balloon effect that aligns with our model.
There are two methods for detecting anomalies in athletes during jumps. :
1. An anomaly in the trajectory of an already executed jump.
To achieve this, it is necessary that the jump be captured on video and that a stroboscopic photograph of it can be produced.
2. Anomalies in jump time and range
The second method does not require video recording, but it necessitates a comparison with a vertical jump; therefore, it can be used only if standing test jumps have been performed beforehand.
In the first method, we analyzed the jump trajectory for symmetry.
In the second method, we examined the discrepancy between the jump's duration and length relative to the laws of ballistics.
2. Investigation of Jump Trajectory Symmetry..
We were prompted to use this method by the memoirs of Ter-Ovanesyan. :
"In Beamon’s mid-flight, or even more so in the second half, at the moment when other jumpers fall like stones, this miracle occurred—the ‘ballon,’ and he hung above the diving pit, as if on an invisible parachute." =>
It is worth noting (and this is important!) that Igor Ter-Ovanesyan speaks of Beamon’s “suspension” specifically during the second half of his jump trajectory. In other words, he, too, observed precisely this asymmetry in the trajectory of Beamon’s jump.
To observe the asymmetry of Bob Beamon's jump trajectory, we needed a stroboscopic photograph of his jump. We found it.
https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/15234/12363353/bob-beamon-olympic-long-jumper-on-incredible-world-record-jump-in-1968-and-why-he-protested
In this photograph, we have marked with a red vertical line the point of Beamon's maximum elevation during the jump, and with small red squares, the athlete's presumed center of mass. The red vertical line marks the moment of Beamon's maximum ascent during the jump. According to the laws of ballistics, the trajectory of the jump should be symmetrical with respect to this line.
However, we observe that, in reality, Beamon's jump trajectory is asymmetrical. Its second half is significantly longer than the first—just as Igor Ter-Ovanesyan had stated.
The asymmetry of the trajectory may indicate :
- Or a decrease in the speed of descent during the second phase of the jump, as the body moves downward.
- Or an increase in the athlete's horizontal velocity during the second phase of the jump.
The first signifies a decrease in gravitational attraction.
The second, a violation of the law of conservation of momentum.
We consider the asymmetry of the trajectory to be the fundamental criterion for an anomalous gravitational effect during a jump, as this criterion is independent of any other factors.
But perhaps this is some general characteristic of the long jump shared by all athletes?
If you watch the video of the jump by Byron Jones—the unofficial world champion in the standing long jump
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0UeHxglMJ4)
and take a stroboscopic photograph of this jump, then you will not see any anomalies.
The trajectory of his jump is symmetrical, as it should be according to the laws of ballistics. The lengths of the first and second halves of the jump are identical.
The value of this very simple method is that :
- We don't need to look for a hang
- We can estimate the increase in jump length provided by the ballon effect.
If one were to require the trajectory of Bob Beamon's jump to be symmetrical—as suggested by the stroboscopic photograph—then, in Mexico City, he would have jumped approximately 10% less: somewhere around 8.00 meters. A mediocre result for the Olympic Games.
3. Comparisons of Time and Jump Length: The √2 Law.
The second method for identifying the "ballon effect" involves comparing the distance achieved in a standing long jump against the height achieved in a standing high jump. While contemplating the possibility of anti-gravity, we recalled that in certain descriptions of anti-gravitational spacecraft, the screens designed to shield against gravity are required to rotate at high speeds (a feature also noted in accounts of Evgeny Podkletnov's experiments). This led us to consider the possibility that the "ballon effect" itself might manifest only in the presence of a horizontal component. ?
According to the laws of ballistics, given an equal propulsive force, the flight time of a vertical jump should be greater than that of a long jump by a factor of √2 ≈ 1.41. Furthermore, the length of the jump should exceed the height of the jump—likewise—by a factor of √2 ≈ 1.41. These are standard problems from a high school physics curriculum. We shall refer to this as the "square root of two rule."
To verify this, let's take a look at the standing high jump and standing long jump performed by Byron Jones—the unofficial world champion in these events.
(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0UeHxglMJ4).
If you watch this video frame by frame, you can see that the duration of Byron's high jump was 891 ms (27 frames), while the duration of his long jump was 627 ms (19 frames). 1 frame = 33 ms.
So for these two jumps the square root rule of two
T(up)/T(long) = 891/627 = 1.42 ≈ √2
(1)
is executed. And both jumps comply with the laws of physics.
However, for jump length and jump height, this rule does not hold.
L(long)/L(up) = 147/44.5 ≈ 3.3
(2)
The reason is that, during his long jump, Byron Jones executed a powerful arm swing to increase his horizontal velocity. Consequently, this increased the length of his jump. However, this ratio of 3.3 is significant to us primarily as a benchmark for the length-to-height ratio observed in standard jumps—specifically those performed by athletes utilizing their arms. It is this specific ratio that we will use as our reference point when analyzing jumps.
Other articles on this topic :
Ballon. =>
More details about the ballon - and why we consider it an anomalous effect, rather than an illusion.
Bob Beamon's Jump =>
Bob Beamon's legendary jump—the one that launched the project.
How to get state of ballon ? =>
How to induce a "ballon" state in yourself ?
My Ballon (Jump). =>
Our experiments proving our hypothesis regarding the ballon.
Comparison of Jumps =>