Part A The air is less dense at higher elevations, so skydivers reach a high ter

Question

Part A The air is less dense at higher elevations, so skydivers reach a high terminal speed. The highest recorded speed for a skydiver was achieved in a jump from a height of 39,000 m. At this elevation, the density of the air is only 4.3% of the surface density of air at 20° C. Estimate the terminal speed of a skydiver at this elevation. Suppose the mass of the skydiver is 50 kg and the cross section area of the skydiver is 0.72 m. You could consider the diver as a cylinder traveling sideways for this problem. Express your answer with the appropriate units. erm363 SubmitPrev Previous Answers Request Answer X Incorrect; Try Again; 7 attempts remaining

Explanation / Answer

Given

mass of the skydiver m = 50 kg

Area of cross section 0.72 m^2 ( cylinder sidewise)

we know that the terminal velocity of the skydivers is  

v = sqrt(2mg/rho*A*C)

rho is density of the air at see level = 123 kg/m^3

given the density is 4.3% of air density at surface= 4.3*123/100 = 5.289 kg/m^3

c is drag coefficient for cylinder it is 0.82

substituting the values  

g = g(1-2h/R) = 9.8(1-2*39000/6371000) = 9.68m/s2

vt = sqrt((2*50*9.68)/(5.289*0.72*0.82)m/s

vt = 17.60 m/s

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