Two skydivers of different masses jump from a plane. In three to five sentences, explain how their falls compare, including the effects of gravity, mass, and air resistance.
(My answer) When a skydiver jumps out of a plane, the skydiver accelerates down because of gravity. No air resistance acts in the upwards direction, then the result is force going down.
Is this a good answer for the question?
NO !!~!~
If there were no air resistance the would BOTH accelerate at the SAME rate , g, about 9.81 m/s^2
F = m a = m g
so
a = g
The air resistance of the bigger diver (or one with a parachute) will slow him down.
Your answer is a good start, but it doesn't fully address the question. Here's a more complete answer:
When two skydivers of different masses jump from a plane, they will experience different rates of acceleration due to gravity. The more massive skydiver will experience a greater force of gravity pulling them down, and therefore accelerate faster than the lighter skydiver. However, both skydivers will also experience air resistance, which will slow them down as they fall. The effect of air resistance is greater for the larger skydiver, since they have a larger surface area and therefore experience more drag. Overall, the larger skydiver will fall faster initially, but will eventually reach a terminal velocity where the force of air resistance equals the force of gravity, and both skydivers will fall at the same speed.
ok thx
thx Damon i fixed it <3
You are welcome :)
Your answer provides a brief understanding of the force of gravity acting on the skydiver, but it doesn't fully address how the falls of two skydivers with different masses compare, including the effects of air resistance. Here's an expanded explanation:
The falls of two skydivers with different masses may differ due to gravity, mass, and air resistance. Gravity is the force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth, causing both skydivers to accelerate downward. However, the more massive skydiver will experience a greater force of gravity compared to the less massive skydiver. As a result, the more massive skydiver will accelerate more quickly.
Additionally, air resistance plays a crucial role. As the skydivers fall, they encounter air particles that create a resistive force. This force increases with the speed and surface area of the falling object. The more massive skydiver will experience a greater air resistance force due to its larger surface area, which will slow down its fall. On the other hand, the less massive skydiver will experience less air resistance and thus fall more quickly.
In summary, due to the effects of gravity, mass, and air resistance, the falls of two skydivers with different masses will result in differences in acceleration and speed. The more massive skydiver will accelerate and fall more slowly than the less massive skydiver, all else being equal.