Can Oobleck save someone falling off a roof?

It's not the fall that kills people - it's the sudden stop at the end. This is literally true. You need a way to slow them down over time instead of suddenly. Hitting you instead of the concrete is not likely going to slow them down enough to prevent death and will cause significant injury to you. read more

The reason for this is because of the way in which the force is burned off, or the impulse of the force. To test this out for yourself, drop a book onto the floor from head height, and then repeat the process, but slowly bring it down to the ground. read more

In "I fell off the roof today," posted on YouTube, a roofer identified only as "Isidro" shares a harrowing experience. While working on the roof of a three-story, stick-built residential project, Isidro lost his balance. read more