A skydiver falls toward the ground at a constant velocity. Which statement best applies Newton's laws of motion to explain the skydiver's motion? An upward force balances the downward force of gravity on the skydiver. The skydiver's inertia is zero, which no longer allows for acceleration. An unbalanced force pulls the skydiver toward the ground. The mass of the skydiver is so great that there is no acceleration.

Question

A skydiver falls toward the ground at a constant velocity. Which statement best applies Newton's laws of motion to explain the skydiver's motion? An upward force balances the downward force of gravity on the skydiver. The skydiver's inertia is zero, which no longer allows for acceleration. An unbalanced force pulls the skydiver toward the ground. The mass of the skydiver is so great that there is no acceleration.

Answer 1

An upward force balances the downward force of gravity on the skydiver.

Answer 2

According to Newton's First Law of Motion (the law of inertia), an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force. In this scenario, the skydiver falls toward the ground at a constant velocity, indicating that the forces acting on the skydiver are balanced. This means the upward force (air resistance) is equal to the downward force of gravity, resulting in no net force and thus, no further acceleration.

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