## How Fast Do You Fall During a Skydive?
Skydiving is an exhilarating sport that involves jumping out of an airplane and freefalling towards the ground before deploying a parachute. The speed at which you fall during a skydive depends on a variety of factors, including your body position, the air density, and the wind speed.
### Body Position
Your body position affects your drag coefficient, which is a measure of how much air resistance you experience. The more streamlined your body position, the lower your drag coefficient and the faster you will fall. Conversely, if you spread your arms and legs out, you will increase your drag coefficient and slow down your fall.
### Air Density
The density of the air also affects your fall speed. Air density is affected by altitude, temperature, and humidity. The higher the altitude, the lower the air density. The lower the air density, the faster you will fall. Similarly, the colder the air, the denser it is, and the slower you will fall.
### Wind Speed
The wind speed can also affect your fall speed. If you are jumping with the wind, you will fall faster than if you are jumping against the wind. This is because the wind provides an additional force that helps to push you down.
### Average Skydiving Fall Speed
On average, skydivers fall at a speed of around 120 miles per hour (193 kilometers per hour) during the freefall portion of the jump. However, this speed can vary depending on the factors discussed above.
### Terminal Velocity
The maximum speed that a skydiver can reach during freefall is called terminal velocity. Terminal velocity is reached when the force of gravity pulling the skydiver down is equal to the force of air resistance pushing the skydiver up. The terminal velocity of a skydiver in a belly-to-earth position is around 120 miles per hour (193 kilometers per hour).
### Conclusion
The speed at which you fall during a skydive is determined by a variety of factors, including your body position, the air density, and the wind speed. On average, skydivers fall at a speed of around 120 miles per hour (193 kilometers per hour) during the freefall portion of the jump. However, this speed can vary depending on the individual skydiver and the conditions on the day of the jump.