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What happens to the downward force of gravity on a skydiver as their speed rises?
AIt grows with the speed
BIt falls towards zero
CIt reverses direction
DIt remains constant
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. It remains constant
1. Weight depends on mass and on the gravitational field, not on how fast a body is moving.
2. So the downward force of gravity stays constant however the speed changes.
3. Drag is the force that grows with speed.
4. Terminal velocity arrives when the growing drag has climbed to meet that fixed weight.
_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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