If a skydiver has an acceleration of 9.81 m/s^2 (22 feet a second) and free-falls for 45 seconds why doesn't he break the sound barrier?
Is it wind resistance or what?
2007-02-14 12:19:01 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
He accelerates until the force of gravity is counterbalanced by wind resistance. He then falls at his terminal velocity for the rest of the trip down. The terminal velocity of a skydiver is somewhere around 200 mph.
2007-02-14 12:22:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its due to a number of limiting factors. The fastest speed of a falling object is called the "terminal velocity".
The terminal velocity of a skydiver in a normal free-fall position with a closed parachute is about 195 km/h (120 mph). The main force limiting terminal velocity is wind resistance (called "drag").
At sea level, at a temperature of 21 °C (70 °F) and under normal atmospheric conditions, the speed of sound is 770 mph or 1238km/h.
So a skydiver will never reach the sound barrier without mechanical help (like a rocket).
2007-02-14 20:26:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is. Any object falling through air has its own terminal velocity, where air resistance balances gravity and acceleration stops. The terminal velocity for humans is around 120 mph, far less than the 750 mph speed of sound (which varies with air density and therefore altitude and temperature).
2007-02-14 20:25:38 · answer #3 · answered by hznfrst 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he had a rocket he could overcome his terminal velocity!
And then he'd go splat!
2007-02-14 20:27:23 · answer #4 · answered by rdappa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wind resistance.. if there wasnt he would like splatter
2007-02-14 20:22:18 · answer #5 · answered by lee w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋