Question

carson is skydiving while on vacation and just deployed his parachute. gravity pulls him downward with a force of 800 newtons. once carsons parachute fully expands, it creates a force of air resistance of 1,000 newtons.
complete the sentence.
once carsons parachute fully expands, the magnitude of his velocity ______.
increases decreases does not change

Explanation:

Step1: Identify net force direction

First, define downward as positive. Gravity force: $F_g = 800\ \text{N}$, air resistance (upward, negative): $F_{air} = -1000\ \text{N}$. Net force:
$$F_{net} = F_g + F_{air} = 800 - 1000 = -200\ \text{N}$$
The negative sign means net force is upward.

Step2: Relate force to velocity change

Carson was moving downward before the parachute fully expands. The upward net force acts opposite to his direction of motion, so it decelerates him.

Answer:

decreases