A light woman and a heavy man jump from an airplane at the same time and open their same-size parachutes at the same time. Which person will get to a state of zero acceleration first?
A)The light woman
B)The heavy man
C)Both should arrive at the same time.
D)not enough information

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The light woman will reach a state of zero acceleration first because she will reach her terminal velocity sooner due to her lower mass. Terminal velocity is achieved when the force of gravity is balanced by the drag force of the parachute, and since the drag force is the same for both (same-size parachutes), the lighter person will stop accelerating first.

A Light Woman and a Heavy Man Jump from an Airplane