Explain the difference between an object or a person free-falling without a parachute
and with a parachute. Use your free-body diagrams as a reference.
without the parachute your only force is mg down
with the parachute you have mg down and drag force up
To explain the difference between an object or a person free-falling without a parachute and with a parachute, we can refer to free-body diagrams. Free-body diagrams are visual representations that show the forces acting on an object or a person.
When an object or a person is free-falling without a parachute, the only force acting on them is gravity. According to Newton's second law of motion, the force of gravity pulls them downward, causing them to accelerate toward the ground. The free-body diagram for this situation would display just one force vector pointing downwards, representing the force of gravity.
On the other hand, when an object or a person is free-falling with a parachute, the situation changes. The parachute creates an additional force that opposes the force of gravity. This additional force is called air resistance or drag. When a parachute opens, it increases the surface area in contact with the air, leading to increased air resistance. The free-body diagram for this situation would show two force vectors: one pointing downwards due to gravity and one pointing upwards due to air resistance.
The force of gravity remains unchanged, pulling the object or person downward. However, the force of air resistance acts in the opposite direction, opposing the force of gravity. As a result, the net force acting on the object or person is reduced, leading to a decrease in acceleration. This decrease in acceleration causes a slower rate of descent compared to free-falling without a parachute.
Overall, the presence of a parachute during free-fall adds the force of air resistance to counteract the force of gravity. This opposition between gravity and air resistance creates a balance of forces and reduces acceleration, allowing for a slower and safer descent.