Question

An airplane is flying with a speed of 325 km/h at a height of 3320 m above the ground. A parachutist whose mass is 83.6 kg jumps out of the airplane, opens the parachute, and then lands on the ground with a speed of 3.85 m/s. How much energy was dissipated on the parachute by the air friction?

a) 567.42 J
b) 923.16 J
c) 3254.78 J
d) 4326.93 J

Answer 1

The energy dissipated on the parachute by air friction is approximately 923.16 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

The energy dissipated by the parachute due to air friction can be calculated using the work-energy principle. The work done by the air friction force is equal to the change in kinetic energy of the parachutist.

The initial kinetic energy of the parachutist is given by ½mv², where m is the mass of the parachutist and v is the initial velocity. The final kinetic energy is ½mv², where v is the final velocity which is 3.85 m/s. The difference between the initial and final kinetic energies gives the work done by the air friction.

Therefore, the energy dissipated on the parachute by the air friction is approximately 923.16 J.