A big and a small person wish to parachute at equal terminal velocities.The big person should
A)jump first.
B)jump lightly.
C)pull upward on the supporting strands to decrease the downward net force.
D)get a larger parachute.
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The terminal velocity of a person depends on their mass and surface area. A larger person will fall faster than a smaller person with the same surface area. Therefore, the big person should get a larger parachute to decrease their terminal velocity and match the smaller person's speed. Choices A, B, and C will not affect the big person's terminal velocity enough to match the smaller person's speed.

A Big and a Small Person Wish to Parachute at Equal