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
1 answer
The skydiver with a larger mass will experience a greater gravitational force pulling them towards the ground compared to the skydiver with a smaller mass. This means they will accelerate faster than the lighter skydiver. However, both skydivers will experience the same amount of air resistance as they fall, which will eventually balance out the gravitational force and cause them to reach a terminal velocity. This terminal velocity will be higher for the skydiver with a larger mass due to the greater force of gravity acting on them. Despite the differences in mass, both skydivers will ultimately fall at the same speed once they reach terminal velocity.