Force on 60kg Parachutist Falling w/ 7kg Parachute

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the forces acting on a 60kg parachutist and her 7kg parachute as they fall at a constant velocity of 6m/s. The participants explore the concept of terminal velocity and the balance of forces in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of constant velocity, questioning whether this indicates terminal velocity. They explore the relationship between downward and upward forces, considering gravitational force and the role of the parachute.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants raising questions about the forces involved and clarifying their understanding of the situation. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relevance of the parachute's mass and the focus on the forces acting on the parachutist.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing examination of the forces acting on both the parachutist and the parachute, with some participants questioning the necessity of considering the parachute's mass in their calculations. The discussion reflects a mix of interpretations regarding the forces at play.

KiNGGeexD
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A 60kg parachutist and her 7kg parachute fall at a constant 6m/s

Find the force on the woman due to chute?

My attempt:

All I can gather from this is that the chute and her are not accelerating, so get are at terminal velocity?
 
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She reached the terminal velocity (that's the reason the velocity is constant), right.

Hint:
Which forces act on her?

What does it mean that she is not accelerating?
 
Because she ain't accelerating the force of her downwards is equal to the force upwards because of the parachute right?
 
Is mg still acting on her?
 
KiNGGeexD said:
Because she ain't accelerating the force of her downwards is equal to the force upwards because of the parachute right?
Right.
Is mg still acting on her?
As long as she is still on earth... sure.
 
Ok so I've got mg acting downwards and mg for the parachute? And total mg am I on the right track?
 
KiNGGeexD said:
Ok so I've got mg acting downwards and mg for the parachute? And total mg am I on the right track?

Ask these questions for yourself:
1-What is the downward force?
2-If downward force is equal to upward force,what is the upward force?
(If downward force is equal to upward force,then the net(total) force is zero(Because of forces cancelling out)
 
Mg-mg=0

Where m is the mass of the parachute?
 
KiNGGeexD said:
Mg-mg=0

Where m is the mass of the parachute?
Er.. no.
Just concentrate of the forces on the person. The 'chute is just something up there somewhere applying a force, you don't care what it is, so its mass is irrelevant.
 
  • #10
Ah ok! So the answer is 588N?
 
  • #11
KiNGGeexD said:
Ah ok! So the answer is 588N?

Yes.
 

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