## Skydiver’s Speed During Landing
When a skydiver jumps out of a plane, they experience a brief period of freefall before their parachute opens. During this time, their speed increases rapidly until they reach terminal velocity. Terminal velocity is the maximum speed that an object can fall through the air and is determined by the object’s weight, shape, and surface area.
For a skydiver, terminal velocity is typically around 120 miles per hour (190 kilometers per hour). However, this speed can vary depending on the skydiver’s weight, body position, and the size of their parachute.
Once the skydiver’s parachute opens, their speed decreases significantly. The parachute’s canopy creates drag, which slows the skydiver down. The amount of drag depends on the size and shape of the canopy.
A smaller canopy will create more drag than a larger canopy, so it will slow the skydiver down more quickly. A skydiver with a small canopy may land at a speed of around 10 miles per hour (16 kilometers per hour), while a skydiver with a large canopy may land at a speed of around 5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour).
The skydiver’s speed at landing also depends on the wind conditions. A tailwind will increase the skydiver’s speed, while a headwind will decrease their speed.
## Factors Affecting Skydiver’s Speed During Landing
The following factors can affect a skydiver’s speed during landing:
Weight: Heavier skydivers will fall faster than lighter skydivers.
Body position: Skydivers who fall in a head-down position will fall faster than skydivers who fall in a flat position.
Parachute size: Smaller parachutes will create more drag and slow the skydiver down more quickly than larger parachutes.
Wind conditions: A tailwind will increase the skydiver’s speed, while a headwind will decrease their speed.
## How to Control Your Speed During Landing
Skydivers can use a variety of techniques to control their speed during landing. These techniques include:
Flaring: Flaring is a technique that skydivers use to slow down their descent before landing. To flare, the skydiver pulls on the risers of their parachute, which causes the canopy to flare out and increase drag.
Sideslipping: Sideslipping is a technique that skydivers use to turn while they are descending. To sideslip, the skydiver pulls on the riser of the parachute that is on the side they want to turn towards.
S-turns: S-turns are a technique that skydivers use to lose altitude while maintaining their speed. To make an S-turn, the skydiver makes a series of turns in a figure-8 pattern.
## Conclusion
A skydiver’s speed during landing is determined by a variety of factors, including their weight, body position, parachute size, and wind conditions. Skydivers can use a variety of techniques to control their speed during landing, including flaring, sideslipping, and S-turns.
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