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A-Level

Mechanics

Question

How does a skydiver reach their terminal velocity?

3 years ago

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1 Reply

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Emelia Gutkowski


1 Answer

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As the skydiver accelerates the drag force increases, causing the net force to reduce. This reduces the acceleration until eventually the drag equals and cancels the weight, there is now no net force, forces cancel, equilibrium, no acceleration,. So the velocity of the skydiver is now constant.

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