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Comparing two skydivers with the same drag coefficient and frontal area, why must a heavier skydiver reach a higher terminal velocity than a lighter one?
ABecause terminal velocity does not depend on weight at all
BBecause heavier skydivers experience less air resistance overall
CBecause drag must increase to balance the heavier skydiver's greater weight
DBecause a heavier skydiver has a smaller drag coefficient automatically
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Because drag must increase to balance the heavier skydiver's greater weight
1. At terminal velocity, the drag force must equal the skydiver's weight.
2. Since drag force grows with the square of speed, a heavier skydiver needs a higher speed for drag to reach that larger weight value.
3. This matches directly: a heavier skydiver must go faster to reach terminal velocity.
4. Weight and drag coefficient are separate quantities in this problem, and neither drag coefficient nor overall air resistance is claimed to be lower for heavier divers.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 5 "Further Applications of Newton's Laws: Friction, Drag, and Elasticity", section 5.2 Drag Forces_
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