As a skydiver free falls froma a plane,what is the sky diver's total energy equal to ?

Answer 1

TE total energy at height h is the sum of potential (PE) and kinetic energy (KE) when the diver dives. TE(h) = PE(h) + KE(h) = mgh + 1/2 mv^2; where m = diver's mass, h = altitude of the aircraft above ground, v = velocity of the aircraft/diver, and g = 32.2 f/sec^2 or 9.81 m/sec^2 depending on the units you are using.

From the conservation of energy, the diver's TE = constant; that is, it is the same no matter where we calculate it during the fall. What will differ, though, is the make up of TE. For example, just prior to impact with the ground TE(h = 0) = PE(0) + KE(0) = KE(0) because PE(0) = mgh = mg0 = 0; all the energy just before being smooshed is kinetic energy.