Question

An airplane pilot fell 380 m after jumping from an aircraft without his parachute opening. He landed in a snowbank, creating a crater 1.4 m deep, but survived with only minor injuries. Assuming the pilot's mass was 80 kg and his terminal velocity was 50 m/s, estimate the following.

(a) the work done by the snow in bringing him to the rest

(b) the average force exerted on him by the snow to stop him

(c) the work done on him by the air resistance as he fell

Answer 1

work by snow: has to equal 1/2 m vterminal^2

average force: Force*distance=work done
average work done on him? Only God knows what that means. averagework/second? avgwork/meter?

work done=changein Potential energy-finalKE

I have no idea what average means here.

Answer 2

thanks. i got A and C. im trying to figure out B
thank you again!

Answer 3

Since Work(W) is Force(F) times Distance(D), (W=F*D), if you know W and D, you should be able to figure F.