## What Affects the Air Resistance Felt by a Skydiver
When a skydiver jumps out of a plane, they experience air resistance, which is the force that opposes their motion through the air. The amount of air resistance they feel depends on a number of factors, including:
The skydiver’s speed: The faster the skydiver falls, the more air resistance they will experience. This is because the air molecules have less time to get out of the way of the skydiver’s body, and so they collide with the skydiver more often.
The skydiver’s surface area: The larger the skydiver’s surface area, the more air resistance they will experience. This is because the air molecules have more surface area to collide with.
The density of the air: The denser the air, the more air resistance the skydiver will experience. This is because there are more air molecules per unit volume of air, and so the skydiver collides with more air molecules per unit time.
In addition to these factors, the skydiver’s body position can also affect the amount of air resistance they experience. For example, a skydiver who is in a spread-eagle position will experience more air resistance than a skydiver who is in a streamlined position.
## How to Minimize Air Resistance
There are a number of things that a skydiver can do to minimize air resistance, including:
Falling in a streamlined position: A streamlined position is one in which the body is aligned with the direction of motion. This reduces the surface area that is exposed to the air, and so reduces the amount of air resistance.
Wearing a jumpsuit: A jumpsuit can help to reduce air resistance by streamlining the body and reducing the surface area that is exposed to the air.
Falling feet-first: Falling feet-first is the most streamlined position, and so it produces the least amount of air resistance.
## Conclusion
Air resistance is a significant force that skydivers must contend with. By understanding the factors that affect air resistance, skydivers can take steps to minimize its effects and improve their performance.