Describe the changes in forces experienced by a parachutist after they have started falling

As the parachutist begins to fall, the forces acting on them undergo a significant change. Initially, when the parachutist jumps out of the plane, they experience a force of gravity pulling them downwards. This force causes them to accelerate as they fall towards the ground. However, as they continue to fall, another force comes into play – air resistance. This force opposes the motion of the parachutist and gradually increases as their speed increases. As a result, the net force acting on the parachutist decreases, causing them to reach a terminal velocity where the force of air resistance equals the force of gravity, resulting in a constant speed.

Furthermore, as the parachutist falls and their parachute is deployed, the forces acting on them change once again. The parachute creates a large amount of air resistance, which significantly increases the net force acting on the parachutist. This sudden increase in air resistance causes the parachutist to slow down rapidly, reducing their speed to a safe and manageable level. Additionally, the parachute also increases the surface area of the parachutist, which further increases the force of air resistance acting against their fall. This change in forces allows the parachutist to descend safely to the ground without experiencing a sudden impact.

In conclusion, the forces experienced by a parachutist undergo significant changes as they fall and deploy their parachute. Initially, the force of gravity causes them to accelerate, but as they fall, the force of air resistance gradually increases, leading to a terminal velocity. When the parachute is deployed, the forces change once again, with the parachute creating a large amount of air resistance and increasing the net force acting on the parachutist. These changes in forces ultimately allow the parachutist to safely descend to the ground.

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