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Lift
Air Pressure
The density of the air also affects drag and lift. At high altitudes the air becomes 'thinner' or less dense. This means there are less air particles per m 3. At lower densities the amount of drag is reduced as there are less particles colliding with the wing however lift is also reduced for the same reason. At lower densities you have to fly faster to produce the same amount of lift. RAES2009
As the skydiver falls faster their air resistance increases. When the resistive force is 300 N the overall force acting on the skydiver is 288.6 N and they are still accelerating but now at 288.6 N / 60 = 4.81 m/s2
Fg = 588.6N
When the resistive force reaches 588.6N it matches the force pulling the skydiver down and they will not accelerate any more. This is known as terminal velocity. 0 / 60 = 0 m/s2
Fair = 1177.2N
When the skydiver pulls their parachute their air resistance increases greatly. This gives an overall force of -588.6 N and they decelerate at -588.6 / 60 = -9.81 m/s2
As the skydiver is now slowing down their air resistance will decrease until it equals the downward force and the skydiver again reaches their terminal velocity. However this velocity is much lower and therefore safer than without the parachute. JianHuang,1998
Bibliography Jian Huang, 1998 Speed of a skydiver (Terminal velocity) [encyclopedia of scientific essays] available at <http://hypertextbook.com/facts/JianHuang.shtml> [accessed 28/07/2011] Rob Landolfi and Phil Sabra, 2005 What is the physics involved in skydiving? [online Q&A] available at <http://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae536.cfm> [accessed 28/07/2011] Royal Aeronautical Society, 2009 How does a plane fly? [online] available at <http://www.raes.org.uk/raes/careers/education/education_planes.htm> [accessed 28/07/2011]