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Terminal Velocity Homework

The document discusses a parachutist experiment with three key points: 1) It describes the forces acting on a parachutist in free fall and asks to calculate the weight of a 75kg parachutist. 2) It explains that a parachutist reaches a terminal velocity due to air resistance from falling, and that opening the parachute reduces this velocity by increasing air resistance. 3) A student tests the hypothesis that larger parachutes fall slower by dropping three model parachutes A, B, and C made from the same material but with different sizes.

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381 views3 pages

Terminal Velocity Homework

The document discusses a parachutist experiment with three key points: 1) It describes the forces acting on a parachutist in free fall and asks to calculate the weight of a 75kg parachutist. 2) It explains that a parachutist reaches a terminal velocity due to air resistance from falling, and that opening the parachute reduces this velocity by increasing air resistance. 3) A student tests the hypothesis that larger parachutes fall slower by dropping three model parachutes A, B, and C made from the same material but with different sizes.

Uploaded by

john smith
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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) 

   The diagram shows the forces acting on a parachutist in free fall.

The parachutist has a mass of 75 kg.

Calculate the weight of the parachutist.


 
gravitational field strength = 9.8 N/kg

Show clearly how you work out your answer and give the unit.

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Weight = __________________________
(3)

(b)     The graph shows how the vertical velocity of a parachutist changes from
the moment the parachutist jumps from the aircraft until landing on the
ground.
 

Using the idea of forces, explain why the parachutist reaches a terminal
velocity and why opening the parachute reduces the terminal velocity. (6)

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(c)     A student wrote the following hypothesis.

‘The larger the area of a parachute, the slower a parachutist


falls.’

To test this hypothesis the student made three model parachutes, A, B and
C, from one large plastic bag. The student dropped each parachute from
the same height and timed how long each parachute took to fall to the
ground.

(i)      The height that the student dropped the parachute from was a control
variable.

Name one other control variable in this experiment. (1)

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_______

(ii)     Use the student’s hypothesis to predict which parachute, A, B or C,


will hit the ground first.

Write your answer in the box.

Give a reason for your answer. (2)

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(2)
(Total 12 marks)

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