Why do skydivers have a terminal velocity?

People and things keep doing the same thing until a force makes them change according to Newton.

When a skydiver jumps out of a plane they have zero velocity downwards but the force of gravity is pulling them downwards back to Earth. This force, acting on the mass of the skydiver causes them to accelerate downwards at 9.81m/s^2. The skydiver will accelerate downards and get faster and faster but a second force, wind resistance, will get bigger and bigger the faster they go and will act to slow them down. This opposes the force of gravity. At some point the force of wind resistance slowing the skydiver down will be as large as the force of gravity pulling the skydiver down to Earth. Here there is no net force on the skydiver and it is known as equilibirum. The skydiver is at their terminal velocity because there is no net force causing them to speed up or slow down - until they open their parachute.

PF
Answered by Peter F. Physics tutor

2267 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is an electron volt?


A passenger is standing in a train. The train accelerates and the passenger falls backwards. Use Newton's first law of motion to explain why he fell backwards.


Explain in terms of the motion of the molecules of the gas why the volume of gas must increase if the pressure is to remain constant as the gas is heated.


A positively charged particle enters a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to its direction of motion. Does the particle: A) Change its velocity, B) Change its speed, C) Accelerate in the direction of the magnetic field.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning