Acceleration of a skydiver free falling(no parachute yet)9.8m/s^2 ?

In summary, when a skydiver reaches a new lower terminal velocity, their acceleration is reduced due to drag. If they dive head first, they will reach a higher terminal velocity than if they spread eagle. Additionally, weight and drag are equal at terminal velocity. This is demonstrated by a historic parachute jump where the skydiver reached speeds close to the sound barrier and successfully landed on the ground.
  • #1
marshall4
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is the acceleration of a skydiver free falling(no parachute yet)9.8m/s^2 ?

When the skydiver reaches a new lower terminal velocity, what happens to his weight and drag?
 
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  • #2
A skydivers acceleration is a bit less then g, due to drag, until he reaches terminal velocity. At terminal velocity his acceleration is 0.

When the skydiver reaches a new lower terminal velocity, what happens to his weight and drag?
I am not sure what this means.
 
  • #3
If you dive head first, like you would into the water, you will reach a much higher terminal velocity than if you spread eagle. So, if you dive head first, reach the terminal velocity, and then go spread eagle, you will swoop through the air at an angle, and the "wind" will slow you to the new slower terminal velocity. Basically, there are two forces, weight and drag. Weight is a consant; drag is much higher spread eagle than head first.
 
  • #4
If you go high enough in the atmosphere you can achieve very high speeds:

On August 27, 1960, the record was broken when a U.S. Air Force captain, Joseph Kittinger, Jr., set a world record for the highest balloon ascent, reaching an altitude of 102,800 feet (31,333 meters) in the Excelsior III. At the end of his ascent, he jumped out of his gondola and parachuted to the ground. That descent set another record for the longest parachute freefall—four minutes and 36 seconds—before his main parachute opened at 18,000 feet (5,486 meters). During his descent, he reached speeds of up to 614 miles per hour (1,149 kilometers per hour), approaching the speed of sound without an aircraft or space vehicle. He fell through air temperatures as low as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 degrees Celsius). His flight and parachute jump demonstrated that it was possible to put a person into space and that fliers could exit their aircraft at extremely high altitudes and freefall back into the Earth's atmosphere.

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/20th_cent_records-2/LTA12.htm
 
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  • #5


Originally posted by marshall4
When the skydiver reaches a new lower terminal velocity, what happens to his weight and drag?
At terminal velocity, weight = drag.
 

What is the acceleration of a skydiver during free fall?

The acceleration of a skydiver during free fall is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared, which is equivalent to the force of gravity on Earth.

Why does a skydiver accelerate at a constant rate during free fall?

A skydiver accelerates at a constant rate during free fall because there is no air resistance or other external forces acting on the body, allowing the force of gravity to pull the skydiver towards the ground at a consistent rate.

Does the mass of a skydiver affect their acceleration during free fall?

The mass of a skydiver does not affect their acceleration during free fall. According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied to it (in this case, the force of gravity) and inversely proportional to its mass. Therefore, regardless of the skydiver's mass, they will experience the same acceleration during free fall.

Does the acceleration of a skydiver change when they deploy their parachute?

When a skydiver deploys their parachute, their acceleration changes significantly. The parachute creates air resistance, which counteracts the force of gravity and slows down the skydiver's descent. This results in a decrease in acceleration and a gentler landing.

Can the acceleration of a skydiver be greater or less than 9.8m/s^2 during free fall?

During free fall, the acceleration of a skydiver will always be 9.8 meters per second squared unless there are external forces acting on the body. For example, if the skydiver were to spread their arms and legs to increase air resistance, their acceleration would decrease. However, if they were to tuck their body into a streamlined position, their acceleration could potentially increase slightly.

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