The key factor influencing terminal velocity is the jumper’s **mass** (which includes their body weight and the weight of their equipment). The greater the mass, the higher the terminal velocity. However, the shape and orientation of the skydiver’s body also play a significant role. A skydiver in a streamlined freefall position, with their arms and legs tucked close to their body, will experience less air resistance and reach a higher terminal velocity than a skydiver in a less aerodynamic position.
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* **Parachute:** The parachute itself, including the canopy, harness, and reserve parachute, can weigh anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds.
Tandem jumps, where a jumper is attached to an experienced instructor, often have more lenient weight limits than solo jumps. This is because the instructor’s experience and specialized equipment can manage a greater combined weight.
* **Sense of Achievement:** Completing a skydive gives you a profound sense of accomplishment.
Skydiving operators carefully consider these factors when establishing weight restrictions. They conduct thorough risk assessments and design their operations to ensure the safety of all participants. The specific weight limit for a skydiving jump can vary depending on several factors:
When a skydiver leaps from an aircraft, they are instantly subject to the relentless force of gravity. This force pulls the skydiver downwards, accelerating them until they reach terminal velocity, the maximum speed they can attain. Terminal velocity is achieved when the force of gravity is balanced by the force of air resistance.