Question

How does air density affect the terminal velocity of a skydiver?(1 point)
Responses

Air density increases closer to the ground, so it will reduce the skydiver’s terminal velocity more as she approaches the ground.
Air density increases closer to the ground, so it will reduce the skydiver’s terminal velocity more as she approaches the ground.

Air density is constant, so it will not affect the skydiver’s terminal velocity.
Air density is constant, so it will not affect the skydiver’s terminal velocity.

Air density does not affect the terminal velocity of a skydiver.
Air density does not affect the terminal velocity of a skydiver.

Air density decreases closer to the ground, so it will reduce the skydivers’ terminal velocity less as she approaches the ground.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The correct response is:

**Air density increases closer to the ground, so it will reduce the skydiver’s terminal velocity more as she approaches the ground.**

As a skydiver descends, they experience drag due to air resistance. Higher air density closer to the ground leads to greater drag force, which affects the terminal velocity (the constant speed that the skydiver reaches when the force of gravity is balanced by the drag force). Thus, as a skydiver approaches the ground, the increased air density results in a lower terminal velocity.