A 55.4 kilogram skydiver is falling toward the Earth at a constant speed. What is the approximate magnitude of the upward force of air resistance acting on the skydiver?

Question

A 55.4 kilogram skydiver is falling toward the Earth at a constant speed. What is the approximate magnitude of the upward force of air resistance acting on the skydiver? No parachute.

Answer 1

The force acting to propel the skydiver down to earth is mg, which is the mass times the acceleration of gravity (55.4 kg x 9.8 m/sec².) In order for the velocity to be constant the downward force must be balanced by an equal force in the opposite direction-upward which is the force of air resistance.