Final answer:
When a skydiver has their parachute open and is floating downward through the air at a constant speed, the forces acting on the system are weight, air resistance, tension, and the normal force.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a skydiver has their parachute open and is floating downward through the air at a constant speed, there are several forces acting on the system of the skydiver and the parachute. The forces that apply to this situation are:
- Weight: The force of gravity pulling the skydiver downward.
- Air resistance: The force exerted by the air against the motion of the skydiver, which opposes the force of gravity.
- Tension: The force exerted by the parachute on the skydiver, which counteracts the force of gravity and air resistance.
- Normal force: The force exerted by the air on the skydiver and the parachute, which supports their weight.
A free-body diagram of the system can be drawn to represent these forces starting at the black dot. The weight vector should point downward, the air resistance vector should point upward, the tension vector should point upward, and the normal force vector should point upward.