A skydiver jumps out of a plane and begins to accelerate. His speed increases to 20 m/s, then 30 m/s. His acceleration slows until he reaches a constant speed of 50 m/s. Which statement accurately des

1 answer

The scenario describes a skydiver who experiences changing speeds and eventually reaches a terminal velocity. Here’s a breakdown of the events in the scenario:

  1. Acceleration Phase: The skydiver accelerates from rest, increasing his speed to 20 m/s and then to 30 m/s. During this phase, the force of gravity is greater than the air resistance, leading to an increase in speed.

  2. Deceleration of Acceleration: As the skydiver continues to fall, the air resistance (drag) starts to increase as his speed increases. This results in a gradual decrease in his acceleration.

  3. Constant Speed (Terminal Velocity): Eventually, the forces acting on the skydiver become balanced. The weight of the skydiver (due to gravity) is equal to the force of air resistance. At this point, he reaches a constant speed of 50 m/s, known as terminal velocity.

In conclusion, an accurate statement summarizing these events could be:

"The skydiver accelerates initially due to gravity, reaches higher speeds as the air resistance increases, and ultimately attains a constant speed of 50 m/s when the force of gravity is balanced by the air resistance."

Would you need further details or specific points elaborated on?