Question

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.

7th grade level pls help

Answer 1

Gravity pulls both skydivers down the same way, so if there were no air they would fall side-by-side at the same rate. In the real world air pushes up on them (air resistance), and that push grows with speed and with how much surface area they present. Because the heavier skydiver has a bigger weight compared to the air resistance, they fall faster and reach a higher steady speed (terminal velocity) than the lighter skydiver. If both change their body position or open parachutes, air resistance changes and can make their speeds more similar.