When two skydivers of different masses jump from a plane, both experience the same gravitational acceleration due to Earth's gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m/s². However, while the force of gravity acting on each skydiver increases with mass, so does the force of air resistance, which opposes their motion. At the beginning of their fall, the heavier skydiver may accelerate faster due to having a larger gravitational force, but as they fall and their speeds increase, air resistance will also increase until both skydivers reach terminal velocity, where the forces of gravity and air resistance balance out. Ultimately, despite their different masses, both skydivers will fall at the same rate once they reach terminal velocity, which depends more on their shape and surface area than on their mass.
Two skydivers of different masses jump from a plane. In three to five sentences, explain how their falls compare, including the effects of gravity, mass, and air resistance.
(4 points)
3 answers
make it shorter
When two skydivers of different masses jump from a plane, they both experience the same gravitational acceleration of 9.81 m/s². The heavier skydiver initially accelerates faster due to greater gravitational force, but as they fall, air resistance also increases. Eventually, both skydivers reach terminal velocity, where the forces of gravity and air resistance balance, causing them to fall at the same rate regardless of their mass.