Question

A skydiver of mass 80 kg jumps from a slow-moving aircraft and reaches a terminal speed of 50 m/s. Calculate the net force acting on the skydiver at terminal speed.

Answer 1

The net force acting on the skydiver at terminal speed is 0 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

At terminal velocity, the skydiver experiences a balanced force where the gravitational force pulling them downward is equal to the air resistance pushing upward. Since the skydiver is no longer accelerating, the net force is zero. Mathematically, this is represented by the equation:

`\[ F_{\text{gravity}} = F_{\text{air resistance}} \]`

Using the equation for gravitational force
`\( F_{\text{gravity}} = m \cdot g \), where \( m \)` is the mass of the skydiver (80 kg) and
`\( g \)` is the acceleration due to gravity
`(approximately \(9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\))`, and recognizing that at terminal velocity
`\( F_{\text{net}} = 0 \)`, we find that the air resistance force equals the gravitational force:

`\[ F_{\text{air resistance}} = F_{\text{gravity}} \]`

`\[ m \cdot g = 0 \]`

Thus, the net force acting on the skydiver at terminal speed is indeed 0 N.