Applying a simple model aiding in understanding the acceleration of a bungee jumper

In the present article, a simple model for teaching the falling motion of a bungee jumper is presented and evaluated in terms of students' learning. The model allows one to make qualitative predictions about the accelerations of bungee jumpers with different masses and cord densities. The model was taught during a 90 min teaching unit to physics teacher-students (N = 15), and their learning was evaluated with the aid of pre- and posttest questions and notes they made during the unit. According to the results, most of the students learned to successfully apply the model in to a novel situation after the teaching unit. This indicates that the model and the designed teaching unit support students' learning of the subject matter of physics that provides basic understanding of the motion of a bungee jumper.