The figure given below shows the direction of the two forces P and Q acting on a skydiver :

Which one among the following statements is correct about the two forces?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

NDA-II 2024 (GAT) Official Paper (Held On: 01 Sept, 2024)

Force P is caused by the gravity and force Q is caused by the friction
When the force P is bigger than the force Q, the speed of the skydiver remains the same
After the parachute opens, force P remains the same while force Q increases
After the parachute opens, force P decreases while force Q increases

Answer 1

CONCEPT:

Forces Acting on a Skydiver

When a skydiver jumps out of an airplane, they experience two primary forces acting on them: the force of gravity (P) and the force of air resistance or friction (Q).
The force of gravity (P) pulls the skydiver downward towards the Earth.
The force of air resistance (Q) acts in the opposite direction, upward, and it increases with the skydiver's speed.

EXPLANATION:

When the skydiver's parachute is opened, the following happens:
- Force P (gravity) remains the same because it is dependent on the mass of the skydiver and the gravitational pull, both of which do not change.
- Force Q (air resistance) increases significantly because the parachute increases the surface area, thereby increasing air resistance.
Therefore, the correct statement is:
After the parachute opens, force P remains the same while force Q increases.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3: After the parachute opens, force P remains the same while force Q increases.