Why does a skydiver need a parachute to land safely?
A) it increases air resistance and slows the skydiver to a safe speed
B) it decreases air resistance and slows skydiver to a safe speed
C) a parachute isn’t needed in order for a skydiver to land safely
The correct answer is A) it increases air resistance and slows the skydiver to a safe speed.
When a skydiver jumps out of an aircraft, they accelerate due to gravity, increasing their speed rapidly. Without a parachute, the skydiver would continue to accelerate towards the ground, reaching a dangerous velocity. The parachute helps by creating drag or air resistance, which opposes the force of gravity and slows down the fall. This reduction in speed allows the skydiver to land safely on the ground.