Question

Given figure shows a man with a parachute. Name the force which is responsible for his downward motion. Will he come down with the same speed without the parachute?

• A. Force of gravity, No
• B. Air resistance, No
• C. Air resistance, Yes
• D. Force of gravity, Yes

Answer 1

The correct option is A Force of gravity, No

For a freely falling man, downward acceleration is equal to the acceleration due to the gravity.

However, in the given scenario man is falling with a parachute. Due to this, another force acting on the parachutist is air resistance, opposing the downward motion of the object. Hence, downward acceleration is reduced and net speed is less than the value without the parachute.