Forces Acting on a Skydiver

• What is the only force acting on a skydiver immediately after jumping?

  Weight due to gravity
• How does the resultant force change as the skydiver falls?

  It initially acts downwards, then balances
• What happens to the skydiver's motion as they accelerate towards the ground?

  They experience a resultant force downwards
• What is air resistance and how does it act on the skydiver?

  It is friction with air molecules acting upwards
• What occurs when the weight of the skydiver balances the air resistance?

  The resultant force becomes zero
• What is the term for the constant velocity reached by the skydiver?

  Terminal velocity
• What happens when the skydiver opens their parachute?

  Air resistance massively increases
• How does the resultant force change after the parachute opens?

  It acts upwards, causing deceleration
• What happens to the skydiver's velocity after opening the parachute?

  It decreases as air resistance increases
• What occurs when air resistance balances the weight again after the parachute opens?

  The resultant force becomes zero again
• What is the final terminal velocity of the skydiver after opening the parachute?

  It is lower than the initial terminal velocity
• How can the journey of a skydiver be represented graphically?

  • Use a velocity-time graph
  • Show changes in velocity over time
  • Indicate periods of acceleration and deceleration
• What should you do to describe the motion of a skydiver in terms of forces?

  Analyze the forces acting at each stage
• Where can you find more questions on the forces acting on a skydiver?

  In the revision workbook