Question

A skydiver jumps out of a plane flying at an altitude of 5,500 meters. How fast is the skydiver going when they get to the ground ?​

Answer 1

The speed of a skydiver when they hit the ground is determined by terminal velocity, which is about 350 km/h in a headfirst position and roughly 200 km/h in a spread-eagle position; the speed is much lower with a deployed parachute.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a skydiver jumps out of a plane, the speed they reach as they hit the ground is affected by their terminal velocity, which depends on their body position and whether the parachute is deployed. A skydiver with a mass of 75 kg can achieve a maximum terminal velocity of about 350 km/h in a streamlined, headfirst or pike position due to minimized drag. In a spread-eagle position, where the body area exposed to air resistance is greater, the terminal velocity may decrease to about 200 km/h. Once the parachute is deployed, the terminal velocity reduces significantly, allowing for a controlled and safe landing speed.

A skydiver's velocity just before hitting the ground without a parachute would depend on whether they maintain a headfirst position or spread-eagle position, but with a parachute, the landing speed will be much lower and within safe limits. It is important to note that reaching the ground at terminal velocity without a parachute would be fatal.

Terminal velocity is reached when the force of gravity is balanced by the drag force of the air, this can be represented by the equation FD=pAv². Here, FD is the drag force, p is the air density, A is the frontal area, and v is the velocity.

Answer 2

2,500 feet (760 meters)

Explannation: At about 2,500 feet (760 meters), the skydiver throws out a pilot chute, and it deploys the parachute. Its used to control the fall rate.