Question

Two skydivers of different masses jump from a plane. In four to five sentences, explain how their falls compare, including the effects of gravity, mass, and air resistance. Make it simple and intended for 8th grade.

Answer 1

The skydiver with a greater mass will experience a larger force of gravity pulling them towards the ground. This means they will accelerate faster than the skydiver with a smaller mass. However, both skydivers will eventually reach a terminal velocity where the force of air resistance pushing against them matches the force of gravity pulling them down. At this point, their falls will be at a constant speed and they will have the same acceleration despite their different masses. In general, the skydiver with the smaller mass will feel more air resistance due to the lower force of gravity acting on them.