Jump, then pull the parachute in time to land safely. Falling, the weight is constant while drag grows with speed, until the two balance and the diver settles at terminal velocity. Open the chute and drag suddenly jumps far above the weight, so the resultant force points up and the diver slows to a gentler terminal velocity. Leave it too late and there is not enough height left to slow down.
MissionJump from 300 m. Land at 4 m/s or less to walk away.Round 1Safe streak 0Best 0
The instant the chute opens, the resultant force points:
altitude300 m
velocity0.0 m/s
drag as a share of weight0%
resultant forcedownward (accelerating)
resultant = weight − drag. At terminal velocity drag = weight, so the resultant is zero.