AS Daily A Level Physics question
A skydiver has been falling belly-to-earth and has reached terminal speed. They then deploy a much larger parachute. Immediately after the parachute opens (before a new steady speed is reached), which statement must be true?
Answer
The correct answer is B.
Correct: B — The drag is greater than the weight, so the skydiver accelerates upward (slows down) until a lower terminal speed is reached. A says drag equals weight immediately, but with a much larger area the drag at the current speed exceeds weight until the speed falls to a new lower terminal value. B states the correct reasoning: increased area raises drag at the same speed, giving a net upward force and deceleration to a new terminal speed where drag balances weight. C claims weight exceeds drag, but opening the parachute increases drag while weight is essentially unchanged, so drag is not smaller than weight at that moment. D assumes drag is smaller because the speed will later be lower; however, drag depends on both speed and area, and the area increase makes drag larger immediately at the same speed, so the skydiver does not continue to speed up.