## A 60 Kilogram Skydiver Falling at a Constant Speed
When a 60-kilogram skydiver is falling at a constant speed, the force of gravity pulling the skydiver down is equal to the force of air resistance pushing the skydiver up. This is known as terminal velocity.
### Forces Acting on a Skydiver
Gravity
Gravity is a force that attracts objects toward each other. The force of gravity between the Earth and the skydiver is given by the following equation:
“`
Fg = mg
“`
where:
Fg is the force of gravity (in newtons)
m is the mass of the skydiver (in kilograms)
g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
Air Resistance
Air resistance is a force that opposes the motion of an object through a fluid (in this case, air). The force of air resistance is given by the following equation:
“`
Fd = 1/2 ρ v² A Cd
“`
where:
Fd is the force of air resistance (in newtons)
ρ is the density of the fluid (in kilograms per cubic meter)
v is the velocity of the object (in meters per second)
A is the cross-sectional area of the object (in square meters)
Cd is the drag coefficient (a dimensionless number that depends on the shape of the object)
### Terminal Velocity
Terminal velocity is the constant speed at which an object falls when the force of gravity is equal to the force of air resistance. At terminal velocity, the net force acting on the object is zero, and the object accelerates at a constant speed.
The terminal velocity of a skydiver depends on a number of factors, including the skydiver’s mass, cross-sectional area, and drag coefficient. A heavier skydiver will have a higher terminal velocity than a lighter skydiver, and a skydiver with a larger cross-sectional area will have a higher terminal velocity than a skydiver with a smaller cross-sectional area. The drag coefficient is a dimensionless number that depends on the shape of the object. A skydiver with a streamlined shape will have a lower drag coefficient than a skydiver with a less streamlined shape.
The terminal velocity of a 60-kilogram skydiver is typically around 55 meters per second (122 miles per hour).
### Applications of Terminal Velocity
Terminal velocity is an important concept in a number of applications, including:
Skydiving
Parachuting
Hang gliding
Bungee jumping
BASE jumping
Rocketry
### Conclusion
Terminal velocity is a constant speed at which an object falls when the force of gravity is equal to the force of air resistance. The terminal velocity of a skydiver depends on a number of factors, including the skydiver’s mass, cross-sectional area, and drag coefficient. A heavier skydiver will have a higher terminal velocity than a lighter skydiver, and a skydiver with a larger cross-sectional area will have a higher terminal velocity than a skydiver with a smaller cross-sectional area. The drag coefficient is a dimensionless number that depends on the shape of the object. A skydiver with a streamlined shape will have a lower drag coefficient than a skydiver with a less streamlined shape.
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