* Weight: This is the force of gravity acting on your mass. It always pulls you downward.
* Force Exerted by You: When you jump, you push down on the ground with your legs. This is the force you exert.
The Relationship
* To jump, your force must be greater than your weight: For you to leave the ground, the force you exert upward must overcome the force of gravity pulling you down. Think of it as pushing against the ground harder than gravity is pulling you.
* At the peak of the jump: As you rise, the force of gravity slows you down. At the peak of your jump, for a brief instant, the force you exert (which is now mostly due to your upward momentum) is equal to your weight.
* Falling Back Down: As you fall back down, the force of gravity is the only force acting on you.
In Summary:
* To jump, you must exert a force greater than your weight.
* At the peak of the jump, the force you exert briefly equals your weight.
* While falling, only gravity acts on you.
