Question

Luz, who is skydiving, is traveling at terminal velocity with her body parallel to the ground. She then changes her body position to feet first toward the ground. What happens to her motion?

She will continue to fall at the same terminal velocity because gravity has not changed.
She will slow down because the air resistance will increase and be greater than gravity.
She will speed up because air resistance will decrease and be less than gravity.
She will begin to fall in free fall because she will have no air resistance acting on her.

Answer 1

She will speed up because air resistance will decrease and be less than gravity.

Explanation: In the belly-to-earth position drag equals weight (terminal velocity). Turning feet-first reduces projected area and drag, so drag < weight and there is a net downward force. She accelerates until a new, higher terminal velocity is reached.