Schottenbauer Publishing

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Graphing a Jump

Jumping into the air in fencing is referred to as a balestra, named after a French term for a sudden leap. According to the Wikipedia glossary of fencing, a balestra consists of a leap forwards, usually followed by a lunge.

What does a simple jump look like in a graph? Consider the following graph, excerpted from The Science of Exercise Equipment from Schottenbauer Publishing:


Discussion Questions
  1. How far does the athlete travel in the vertical direction? 
  2. How far does the athlete travel in the horizontal direction?
  3. Is this leap similar to a balestra? Describe any similarities or differences.
  4. What might a balestra look like in a graph?

Additional Information