Can A Human Sustain A One-Second Jump?

Has anyone ever achieved a full one-second duration while jumping? This question has intrigued many, as the idea of spending an entire second in mid-air seems almost impossible. Even a skilled dunker once attempted this feat but fell short, managing only 0.96 seconds in the air. Intrigued by this challenge, I embarked on a mission to calculate the precise duration of my own jumps. On November 21st, 2022, I set out to discover whether I could stay airborne for a full second during one of my leaps.

What is the vertical height achieved in a one-second jump? A vertical jump that reaches a height of four feet corresponds to a hang time of one second. This measurement represents an impressively high jump, often exceeding the capabilities of even elite basketball players like Michael Jordan. In comparison, a jump reaching a height of three feet results in a slightly shorter hang time of 0.87 seconds. This information sheds light on the remarkable athleticism required for such jumps and the distinctions in hang time based on the height achieved. (Date: May 15, 1997)

Is it possible to achieve a brief moment of suspension in mid-air when jumping? When an average person or I attempt to jump as high as we can, we typically manage to remain off the ground for approximately half a second. However, to put this into perspective, someone like Michael Jordan, a legendary basketball player renowned for his extraordinary jumping ability, could extend this airborne duration to nearly one full second. This remarkable feat was observed on February 11th, 2022.