Question

A skydiver deploys his parachute when he is 1000m directly above his desired landing spot. He then falls through the air at a steady 5.0 m/s. There is a breeze blowing to the west at 1.9 m/s. At what angle with respect to vertical does he fall?

Answer 1

We can calculate his resultant speed.

Resultant speed is:
v^2 = 5^2 + 1,9^2
v = 5,349 m/s

Now we need to find angle between resultant speed and vertical speed.
cos(alpha) = 5/5.349 = 0.9347
alpha = 20,8 degrees

Answer is 20,8 degrees