Final answer:
The force of air resistance needed to stop the skydiver from accelerating and reach her terminal velocity is less than 580N.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force of air resistance needed to act on the skydiver for her to stop accelerating and reach her terminal velocity is less than 580N.
When a skydiver is descending toward the earth, two forces are acting on them: the gravitational force pulling them downward and the air resistance force pushing them upwards. Initially, the force of gravity is greater than the force of air resistance, causing the skydiver to accelerate. However, as the skydiver gains speed, the force of air resistance increases until it becomes equal to the weight of the skydiver (580N in this case). At this point, the skydiver reaches their terminal velocity, at which they no longer accelerate.
So, for the skydiver to stop accelerating and reach their terminal velocity, the force of air resistance needs to be equal to their weight, which is 580N.