A 600 N skydiver in free fall is accelerating at -7.6 m/s^2 rather than -9.8 m/s^2 because of the force of air resistance. How much drag force is acting on the skydiver?

a)58.2
b)65.3
c)61.4
d)40.2

I use the equation Σ(F)vertical-ma=0

To find m I did: 600/9.8 = 61.2

I end up getting Fdrag-600-(61.2)(-7.6)=0

I keep getting 135N which is not correct.

1 answer

force down = 600
force up = Fd

600 - Fd = m a = 61.2 * 7.6
so Fd = 600 - 465
Fd = 135 N
so I agree with you