THE PHYSICS OF SKYDIVING

Skydivers

This is what happens at each stage of skydiving
1.On leaving the plane,
the person starts accelerating on his own weight.
-Force: Downward(the person's weight)
-Acceleration: 9.8m/s2(gravitation)
-Velocity: 0m/s

2....with time
The person accelerates downward on gravity. He will be resisted by air molecules(this is called a Drag); and this occurs till the drag is equal the person's weight. The person eventually stops accelerating and starts travelling at a uniform velocity.
-Force: Downward=Upward(the divers weight) i.e. no resultant forces again
F=0N
-Acceleration:0m/s2 (since a=f/m, f=0)
Velocity: >>0m/s and Constant. This is the highest velocity this diver can travel, and it is known as TERMINAL VELOCITY.

3.Opening the parachute
This increase the drag force on the diver, hence he starts deccelerating.
-Force: Downward<Upward
-Acceleration: negative
-Velocity: Reducing

4...with time
the body deccelerates to a new terminal velocity. The drag reduces again to equal the weight.
-Force:Downward=Upward
-Acceleration:0m/s
-Velocity:Reduced but >0m/s

This new velocity makes it safe for him to land.


Watch the demostration here