Answer to Question #170766 in Physics for James P Walsh JR

Question

As people dive off a diving board, it bends in a peculiar fashion. What is this fashion? Explain it.

Answer 1

This fashion is caused by the fact that the board is flexible and subjected to elastic deformations. It bends down when you stand on the end, and bends to the equilibrium position as you step off. Bit since the board ha a mass and inertia, the end of the board continues moving upward from the equilibrium position. Then the motion continues in the opposite direction with a smaller amplitude slowly decaying due to damping.