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..

Answer 1

When two skydivers of different masses jump from a plane, they both experience the same gravitational acceleration, which is approximately 9.81 m/s², regardless of their mass. Initially, both divers will accelerate downwards, but as their speed increases, they encounter air resistance (drag), which opposes their motion. Although a heavier skydiver has more gravitational force acting on them due to their greater mass, they also experience a greater force of air resistance as they fall. Eventually, both divers will reach terminal velocity, where the downward force of gravity equals the upward force of air resistance, resulting in no further acceleration; however, the heavier skydiver will reach a higher terminal velocity compared to the lighter skydiver, allowing them to fall faster overall.