Question

This graph describes the motion of a sky diver that jumped from an airplane. The skydiver is MOST LIKELY ?

A) being influenced by equal amounts of gravity and air resistance.
B) slowing down because of an unbalanced force of air resistance.
C) accelerating because of an unbalanced force of gravity.
Eliminate
D) on the ground and is not falling anymore.

Answer 1

The shape of the graph of the magnitude of the acceleration versus time for a falling skydiver initially increases and then decreases towards zero as the skydiver reaches terminal velocity. The graph of the magnitude of the velocity versus time initially increases and then reaches a plateau at terminal velocity. The graph of the magnitude of the displacement versus time initially increases and then levels off as the skydiver experiences constant displacement.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of a skydiver, the shape of the graph of the magnitude of the acceleration versus time will initially be positive and then decrease towards zero as the skydiver reaches terminal velocity. This is because the skydiver is initially accelerating due to the unbalanced force of gravity, but as they approach terminal velocity, the force of air resistance opposes the force of gravity and causes the acceleration to decrease.

Similarly, the shape of the graph of the magnitude of the velocity versus time for a falling skydiver will initially be positive and then reach a plateau at terminal velocity.

Lastly, the shape of the graph of the magnitude of the displacement versus time for a falling skydiver will initially be positive and then level off as the skydiver reaches terminal velocity and experiences constant displacement.

Answer 2

A) being influenced by equal amounts of gravity and air resistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

B) slowing down because of an unbalanced force of air resistance.

False - if it was slowing down, then the velocity would go down.

D) on the ground and is not falling anymore.

False - This would be mistaken as the answer but it is not because if the person is not falling anymore the horizontal line should be at the x-axis, meaning that there is no more velocity.

C) accelerating because of an unbalanced force of gravity.

False - The line would otherwise be going up or down.