OS-UP-14-95 · OpenStax University Physics Volume 1
Viscosity and Turbulence (Problem 95)
A skydiver will reach a terminal velocity when the air drag equals their weight. For a skydiver with a large body, turbulence is a factor at high speeds. The drag force then is approximately proportional to the square of the velocity. Taking the drag force to be FD=21\rhoAv2, and setting this equal to the skydiver’s weight, find the terminal speed for a person falling “spread eagle.”