A skydiver is equipped with a stopwatch and an altimeter. He opens his parachute

Question

A skydiver is equipped with a stopwatch and an altimeter. He opens his parachute 25 seconds after exiting a plane flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet and observes that his altitude is 14,800 feet. Assume that air resistance is proportional to the square of the instantaneous velocity, his initial velocity on leaving the plane is zero, and g=32 ft/s. a) find the distance s(t) measured from the plane the skydiver has traveled during freefall in time t. b) how far does the skydiver fall and what is his velocity at t=15?

Explanation / Answer

S=0.5*gt2

=0.5*32*252

=625*16

=10,000ft

The air resistance is k.(x')².

x, is velocity

-mg - k(x')² = mx'' ......there are -ve signs on the forces because they are acting downwards.
-g - c.u² = du/dt
find velocity

2*g*(h1-h2)=u2

find velocity substitute in above equation

V=u+at

get value of V

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