Why do skydivers have a terminal velocity?

People and things keep doing the same thing until a force makes them change according to Newton.

When a skydiver jumps out of a plane they have zero velocity downwards but the force of gravity is pulling them downwards back to Earth. This force, acting on the mass of the skydiver causes them to accelerate downwards at 9.81m/s^2. The skydiver will accelerate downards and get faster and faster but a second force, wind resistance, will get bigger and bigger the faster they go and will act to slow them down. This opposes the force of gravity. At some point the force of wind resistance slowing the skydiver down will be as large as the force of gravity pulling the skydiver down to Earth. Here there is no net force on the skydiver and it is known as equilibirum. The skydiver is at their terminal velocity because there is no net force causing them to speed up or slow down - until they open their parachute.

PF
Answered by Peter F. Physics tutor

2285 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Two immobile point charges Q1 and Q2 of values +q and +3q respectively are some distance apart. Q3, with value +2q is placed between them and does not move. What is the ratio of the distance between Q3 and Q2 to the distance between Q1 and Q3?


When light above the threshold frequency of a metal is shone on the metal, photoelectrons are emitted. If the power of the light halves, are the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons and/or the number of photoelectrons altered, and if so, how?


What is a neutrino?


Two current carrying wires are placed next to each other and anti-parallel currents are allowed to flow. Is the magnetic force between the wires attractive or repulsive?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning