Top Rope Physics

[Kevin Hamilton]

Or, how many spins need be at the center of tootsie pop-

Inspired by a mini debate (inasmuch as two posts can be called a debate) I had on here last week with someone; sorry I'm blanking on who, don't take it personally whoever you are anonymous poster, it's not a slight at you, it's just that I'm not very smrt.

Essentially the debate ( two posts) came about because the unknown poster (sorry, I'm dumb) mentioned in a thread how a 450 splash or a shooting star press would have more velocity and therefore power than a regular splash.

It was my contention that quite the opposite would be true, as the splashes that have some kind of athletic flourish before impact would be using more energy to get those spins, thereby lessening some of the power on impact.

To put it in made up totally imaginary mathematical terms I just came up with to sound intelligent; let's say a wrestler ascends to the top rope, and he has X amount of potential energy measured in units I'm going to call Snukas. ( Cuz I'm unbearably silly like that).

It's my contention that the at rest Snukas going from potential to kinetic energy will be greater in a straight forward splash than a shooting star press or something similar because in a move where you have to flip before impact, you will be burning off potential Snukas just to overcome the force of gravity to enable you to spin.

Moreover, it'll also depend on the body type of a wrestler how efficient he/she is able to convert potential Snukas into kinetic Snukas. E.g. Big Daddy V may weigh much more and have more in the way of potential Snukas than an RVD, but BDV has to burn up more of the potential Snukas to overcome the force of gravity, so the difference between the two when it comes to impact will be negligible or even in RVD's favor.

So having stated my case, I extend the question to you fellow crappers.. in a Kayfabeian physics world, will a regular splash do more impact or will a Shooting Star Press and the like be what you favor?

Which action will achieve the maximum Snuka output to attempt the most efficient Superfly effect?

[RobFRules]

Speaking in kayfabe physics terms, a spinning drop would seem to have more of a buzzsaw effect, and thus, added impact!

[Stotty]

with absolutely no knowledge of physics, id say a 450 splash has more power than a regular splash

[Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa]

Performing a somersault in midair increases your speed and gravitation, thus increasing impact.

[Deleted]

if i could choose a move to do... normal splash because its easier and still seems to get the jerb done.

[Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action]

You won't come down with any more force or velocity either way.

You can't change your weight and you can't change gravity no matter what.

[EJS]

Double knees.

[psychotix5000]

Regular by gum, the way it was and the way it should be.

[A Dubya (El Hombre Muerto)]

I'd go with a regular splash ala Jimmy Snuka.

[Pagan Warrior]

I always liked the dolphin splash for some reason. I know it's just another regular splash but it just looks cool.

[FrankGotch]

The best looking splash in the business is the 5 star so I go with regular.

[sunwukong]

Apr 16, 2008 20:53:45 GMT -5 Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action said:

You won't come down with any more force or velocity either way.

You can't change your weight and you can't change gravity no matter what.

Maybe you can't.

[Mecca]

Depends who's doing the move, like I'm pretty sure RVD's version of the frog splash if he legit landed on a guy would hurt alot more than say Christians.

[strykerdarksilence]

I`d be like Jack Evans, spin at least 18 times with a corkscrew.

Why?

Because it hypnotises your opponent into staying down

["Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat]

I'm now physics expert but doesn't spinning speed up your velocity so when your body comes back around you are "moving faster" so theres more impact??

That made sense in my head but it probably doesn't to anyone else but can anyone make sense of it??

[rapidfire187]

I've just always failed to understand how a shooting star press would be effective. It seems like it would actually be less effective than a regular splash since most of the impact is your knees slamming into the mat. Come to think of it, a shooting star kneedrop would OWN...I hope Kurt Angle tries an SSP sometime...

[Tea & Crumpets]

Apr 17, 2008 4:17:54 GMT -5 "Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat said:

I'm now physics expert but doesn't spinning speed up your velocity so when your body comes back around you are "moving faster" so theres more impact??

That made sense in my head but it probably doesn't to anyone else but can anyone make sense of it??

Doesnt' speed up velocity, since velocity is speed with direction, but increases it by moving constantly, thus creating constantly changing velocity and constant acceleration.

And yes, I was the guy who was in this debate. So I say that a spinning splash is more effective in general.

I will admit, after thinking about it, that with an SSP or Lightning Strike (backwards 450) the direction of rotation is in the opposite direction to movement, thus decreasing the impact velocity, but with a Phoenix, 450, Moonsault, 630 or Skytwister, the rotation is in the same direction as movement so impact is greater.

it depends entirely on the direction of said flippy move. An SSP is basically as effectvie as a regular splash, but a 450 would be more effective.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Apr 17, 2008 5:21:38 GMT -5 Tea & Crumpets said:

Apr 17, 2008 4:17:54 GMT -5 "Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat said:

I'm now physics expert but doesn't spinning speed up your velocity so when your body comes back around you are "moving faster" so theres more impact??

That made sense in my head but it probably doesn't to anyone else but can anyone make sense of it??

Doesnt' speed up velocity, since velocity is speed with direction, but increases it by moving constantly, thus creating constantly changing velocity and constant acceleration.

And yes, I was the guy who was in this debate. So I say that a spinning splash is more effective in general.

I will admit, after thinking about it, that with an SSP or Lightning Strike (backwards 450) the direction of rotation is in the opposite direction to movement, thus decreasing the impact velocity, but with a Phoenix, 450, Moonsault, 630 or Skytwister, the rotation is in the same direction as movement so impact is greater.

it depends entirely on the direction of said flippy move. An SSP is basically as effectvie as a regular splash, but a 450 would be more effective.

Glad to hear ya chime in, as I totally blanked on ya. My apologies, and thanks for contributing to this goofy, yet hopefully fun thread.

[Fantozzi]

the speed of the rotation gives extra energy if you use it when you hit your opponent

so if you do a moonsault and you hit your opponent with your legs if will hurt more than a splash. if you hit him with the head it'll hurt less

[cactusrob]

It depends. It all depends on how high you go.
So if the 450 makes you go higher (which after somersaulting may well be true) then the impact will be higher.

In graph form