What will be the acceleration of a skydiver when air resistance builds up to 86% of her weight? assume the acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s 2. answer in units of m/s 2?

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Physics

Jamal Valenzuela

Today, 02:37

What will be the acceleration of a skydiver when air resistance builds up to 86% of her weight? assume the acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s 2. answer in units of m/s 2?

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Reuben Rios · Answer 1

Force equals mass times acceleration, F=ma. Rearranging the equation, acceleration = force divided by mass, a=F/m. The skydiver's mass remains constant; therefore, her acceleration is proportional to the total force acting on her body. The total force acting on the skydiver is equal to the force of gravity, which is the same as the skydiver's weight, minus the force of air resistance. When the air resistance builds up to 86% of her weight, the total force equals 14% of her weight (100% - 86%). Her acceleration is 14% of the acceleration due to gravity. a = 0.14 * 10m/s^2 = 1.4 m/s^2.