Question

velocity graphs. entire jump (0s - 540s) and end of jump (200s-540s)
(- negative) velocity (m/s) vs. time (s): entire jump
9 before opening his parachute, felix baumgartner was already travelling at a constant speed (from 200s to 260s). this is because he was at terminal velocity, when the force of air resistance up is equal to the force of gravity down. the two forces are balanced, so he does not accelerate.
if felix baumgartner was already falling at constant velocity, why did he need to open his parachute?
your answer must:

Explanation:

To answer why Felix needed to open his parachute despite falling at constant velocity (terminal velocity before 260s), we analyze the purpose of a parachute. The parachute increases air resistance (drag force) significantly. When he opens it, the drag force becomes much greater than his weight (force of gravity). This unbalanced force (net force upward) causes deceleration, reducing his velocity to a safe level for landing. Without opening the parachute, his terminal velocity (around the speed he was at before) would be too high, leading to a fatal impact on landing. The key is that the initial terminal velocity (before parachute) is suitable for free - fall but not for a safe landing, and the parachute changes the force balance to lower the velocity.

Answer:

Felix needed to open his parachute because, although he was falling at a constant (terminal) velocity before opening it, that velocity was too high to ensure a safe landing. When he opens the parachute, the air resistance (drag force) increases drastically. This makes the drag force much larger than his weight (the force of gravity pulling him down). The resulting net upward force causes him to decelerate, reducing his velocity to a level that is safe enough to land without suffering fatal injuries.