Question

A 70.0 kg skydiver falls towards the earth. The force due to air resistance is 1200 N. What is the acceleration of the skydiver?

Answer 1

The acceleration of the skydiver is approximately 17.14 m/s².

Step-by-step explanation:

The acceleration of the skydiver can be found using Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration.

Given that the force due to air resistance is 1200 N and the mass of the skydiver is 70.0 kg, we can set up the equation:

Net force = Force due to air resistance

70.0 kg * acceleration = 1200 N

Solving for acceleration:

acceleration = 1200 N / 70.0 kg

acceleration ≈ 17.14 m/s²

Therefore, the acceleration of the skydiver is approximately 17.14 m/s².

Answer 2

The force of gravity on the skydiver is

F(g) = (mass) x (gravity)

F(g) = (70 kg) x (9.8 m/s²)

F(g) = 686 Newtons, downward (her "weight")

If, through some mysterious process, the force due to air resistance acting on her is 1,200 Newtons upward, then the net force on the skydiver is

F(net) = (686 N down) + (1,200 N up)

F(net) = 514 Newtons, up

The skydiver is accelerating UP, at 7.34 m/s² .

I have no idea how this could actually happen in the real world, but the Math and Physics are bullet-proof here.