A skydiver falls toward the ground at a constant velocity. Which statement best applies Newton’s laws of motion to explain the skydiver’s motion?

Question

An upward force balances the downward force of gravity on the skydiver.
The skydiver’s inertia is zero, which no longer allows for acceleration.
An unbalanced force pulls the skydiver toward the ground.
The mass of the skydiver is so great that there is no acceleration.

Answer 1

The statement that best applies Newton’s laws of motion to explain the skydiver’s motion is:

An upward force balances the downward force of gravity on the skydiver.

When the skydiver falls at a constant velocity, it means that the forces acting on the skydiver are balanced. The gravitational force pulling the skydiver downward is countered by the drag force (air resistance) acting upward. According to Newton's first law of motion, an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Since the skydiver is not accelerating, the forces must be balanced.