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The graph below shows Claire's speed during a parachute jump. At certain points the force of Claire's weight balanced the force of air resistance. Add up the numbers of these points (e.g. 1 and 3 and 5 would be 9).

What's the answer?

The graph below shows Claire's speed during a parachute jump. At certain points the-example-1
User Wsorenson
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1 Answer

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Claire's weight balanced the force of air resistance at points 2, 3, and 5. The total of these points is ten.

Force is a vector quantity, as we all know. This implies that force has a magnitude as well as a direction. The sign that the force would carry is determined by its direction. In this scenario, two forces act on Claire as she dives from the parachute. Claire's weight balanced and the force of air resistance are the two forces.

Both forces tend to act in opposite directions. The speed time graph displays a plateau at the places where the two forces are balanced, indicating that the speed does not change with time.

User Ankur Aggarwal
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