Skydiver with parachute drifting in crosswind

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 6K views
LadyW
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A skydiver deploys his parachute when he is 860 m. directly above his desired landing spot. He then falls through the air at a steady 5.8 m/s . There is a breeze blowing to the west at 2.0 m/s. At what angle with respect to vertical does he fall? By what distance will he miss his desired landing spot?


Homework Equations


xf=xi+Vxi*t
yf=yi+Vyi*t-1/2*g*t^2


The Attempt at a Solution


I was able to find the angle by finding the tan^-1=71, and then 90-71=19
However, I completely stucked with the second answer. I was going to find first t:
0=860m+5.8m/s*t-1/2*9.8m/s^2*t^2
and then xf=2.0m/s*t but apparently that's the wrong answer. I guess the mistake is somewhere in the equations...Please, can you help me out? Thank you so much!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
LadyW said:

Homework Statement


A skydiver deploys his parachute when he is 860 m. directly above his desired landing spot. He then falls through the air at a steady 5.8 m/s . There is a breeze blowing to the west at 2.0 m/s. At what angle with respect to vertical does he fall? By what distance will he miss his desired landing spot?


Homework Equations


xf=xi+Vxi*t
yf=yi+Vyi*t-1/2*g*t^2


The Attempt at a Solution


I was able to find the angle by finding the tan^-1=71, and then 90-71=19
However, I completely stucked with the second answer. I was going to find first t:
0=860m+5.8m/s*t-1/2*9.8m/s^2*t^2
and then xf=2.0m/s*t but apparently that's the wrong answer. I guess the mistake is somewhere in the equations...Please, can you help me out? Thank you so much!

The parachutist is not really undergoing projectile motion - he is merely descending at constant speed.

When calculating his descent time, there is no reference to g (9.8) as his parachute eliminates it.