A terminal velocity of 373 m/s is quite a feat. It's also greater than Mach 1, which makes it unlikely to occur. Are you sure a decimal point hasn't been misplaced?Will Freedic said:
A couple of problems there. First, what happened to gravity? Secondly, I don't understand what you did to get from cv2 = mv dvdx (presumably you meant mv dv/dx) to Cm/x = v2 / 2 + cWill Freedic said:
Thank you for your help, i am new to these forums so am a little slow!, managed to get there now thoharuspex said:
Drag force is a force that opposes the motion of an object through a fluid, such as air. It is caused by the resistance of the fluid to the object's movement. For a skydiver, drag force acts against their downward motion, slowing them down as they fall.
The shape of a skydiver greatly affects the drag force they experience. A more streamlined shape, like a pencil, will experience less drag force than a flat surface, like a sheet of paper. This is because the streamlined shape allows the air to flow smoothly around the object, while the flat surface creates turbulence and increases drag force.
Yes, the speed of the skydiver greatly affects the drag force they experience. As the skydiver falls faster, the drag force increases. This is because the faster they fall, the more air molecules they come into contact with, creating more resistance and thus increasing the drag force.
The size of a skydiver also plays a role in the drag force they experience. A larger skydiver will experience more drag force than a smaller skydiver, as they have a larger surface area for the air to push against. This is why skydivers often wear tight-fitting suits to minimize their surface area and reduce drag force.
Yes, a skydiver can control their drag force to some extent. By changing their body position, they can alter their surface area and thus affect the amount of drag force they experience. For example, spreading their arms and legs wide will increase their surface area and drag force, while tucking their limbs close to their body will decrease it. Additionally, skydivers can use parachutes to further control their descent and drag force.