## The First Force to Act on a Skydiver
When a skydiver steps out of an airplane, they are immediately subject to the force of gravity. This force is what causes the skydiver to accelerate downward toward the ground. The magnitude of the force of gravity is proportional to the mass of the skydiver and the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s².
“`
F_gravity = m g
“`
where:
F_gravity is the force of gravity (newtons)
m is the mass of the skydiver (kilograms)
g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
The force of gravity is the first force to act on a skydiver because it is the only force that is acting on the skydiver when they step out of the airplane. The force of air resistance does not begin to act on the skydiver until they start to fall, and the force of buoyancy does not begin to act on the skydiver until they reach the ground.
### The Effects of Gravity on a Skydiver
The force of gravity causes the skydiver to accelerate downward toward the ground. The acceleration of the skydiver is constant, and it will continue to increase until the skydiver reaches the ground or until another force acts on the skydiver to stop their acceleration.
The force of gravity also causes the skydiver to experience weightlessness. Weightlessness is the feeling of not being supported by any force. When a skydiver is in freefall, they are not supported by the force of the ground or by the force of air resistance. This causes them to feel weightless.
### Overcoming Gravity
The force of gravity is a powerful force, but it can be overcome by other forces. For example, the force of air resistance can slow down a skydiver’s descent. The force of buoyancy can help a skydiver to float in the air. And the force of thrust from a rocket can propel a skydiver upward.
## Other Forces that Act on a Skydiver
In addition to the force of gravity, there are several other forces that can act on a skydiver. These forces include:
Air resistance is the force that opposes the motion of an object through the air. Air resistance is proportional to the speed of the object and the density of the air.
Buoyancy is the force that opposes the weight of an object in a fluid. Buoyancy is proportional to the volume of the object and the density of the fluid.
Thrust is the force that propels an object forward. Thrust is produced by engines or other devices.
## Conclusion
The force of gravity is the first force to act on a skydiver. This force causes the skydiver to accelerate downward toward the ground. The force of gravity can be overcome by other forces, such as air resistance, buoyancy, and thrust.