## Does Skydiving Feel Like Free Falling?
Skydiving is an exhilarating experience that simulates the feeling of free-falling through the sky. However, it’s important to understand that skydiving is not the same as actually free-falling from an airplane.
### What is Free Falling?
Free falling is the state of an object falling under the force of gravity without any other external forces acting upon it. When an object is in free fall, it experiences a constant acceleration due to gravity. The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s².
### Skydiving: Not Free Falling
When skydiving, you are not actually in free-falling from the moment you jump out of the airplane. Initially, you will accelerate due to gravity, but as you fall, the air resistance acting on your body will slow you down. Eventually, you will reach a terminal velocity, which is the maximum speed that you can reach while falling through the air.
Terminal velocity is determined by a number of factors, including your body weight, shape, and the density of the air. For an average-sized person, terminal velocity is about 120 mph (190 kph).
### So, What Does Skydiving Feel Like?
If skydiving is not free falling, then what does it feel like? Here are some of the sensations you can expect to experience when skydiving:
Acceleration: When you jump out of the airplane, you will feel a sense of acceleration as you fall. This acceleration will quickly fade as you reach terminal velocity.
Air Resistance: You will feel the air rushing past your body as you fall. This air resistance will create a feeling of buoyancy, as if you are being pushed up by an invisible force.
Weightlessness: As you reach terminal velocity, you will feel as if you are weightless. This is because the air resistance acting on your body is equal to the force of gravity pulling you down.
Exhilaration: Skydiving is an incredibly exhilarating experience. The feeling of free-falling, combined with the wind rushing past your body, is simply exhilarating.
### Is Skydiving Safe?
Skydiving is a relatively safe sport, but there are always risks involved. The most common risks of skydiving include:
Equipment failure: The most serious risk of skydiving is equipment failure. If your parachute fails to open, you could fall to the ground and be seriously injured or killed.
Human error: Skydiving also involves a significant risk of human error. If you make a mistake while packing your parachute or jumping out of the airplane, you could put yourself in danger.
Weather conditions: Weather conditions can also affect the safety of skydiving. If the weather is bad, it can be dangerous to jump out of an airplane.
### Conclusion
Skydiving is an exhilarating experience that simulates the feeling of free-falling through the sky. However, it’s important to understand that skydiving is not the same as actually free-falling from an airplane. Skydiving is a relatively safe sport, but there are always risks involved. If you are considering skydiving, be sure to do your research and choose a reputable skydiving company.