Falling Fast

Classical Mechanics Level 1

After jumping from the airplane, the speed of a skydiver continuously increases, until he attains terminal velocity. The skydiver then falls with a constant speed of about 250 km/h 250 \text{ km/h} , until he opens his parachute.

What happens to the mechanical energy of the skydiver as he falls at terminal velocity?

Kinetic energy decreases, Potential energy remains constant. Kinetic and Potential energy both remain constant. Kinetic energy remains constant, Potential energy decreases. Kinetic and Potential energy both decrease.

Pranshu Gaba by Pranshu Gaba

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2 solutions

Since your speed has become constant your kinetic energy ( 1 2 m v ² ) (\frac{1}{2}mv²) is now constant, mass being already unchanging, but your potential energy ( m g h ) (mgh) decreases as you fall and height goes down.

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Andy Song
Aug 4, 2020

The kinetic energy always remains constant but the potential energy will slowly decrease as they get closer to the terminal velocity.

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