As a skydiver falls, the air is forced to move around him. What energy transformation does this cause? A. Potential energy from the skydiver becomes potential energy in the atmosphere. B. Kinetic energy from the skydiver becomes heat energy in the atmosphere. C. Kinetic energy from the atmosphere becomes potential energy for the skydiver. D. Heat energy from the atmosphere becomes kinetic energy for the skydiver.

Question

Physics

Abraham Buckley

12 May, 12:35

As a skydiver falls, the air is forced to move around him. What energy transformation does this cause? A. Potential energy from the skydiver becomes potential energy in the atmosphere. B. Kinetic energy from the skydiver becomes heat energy in the atmosphere. C. Kinetic energy from the atmosphere becomes potential energy for the skydiver. D. Heat energy from the atmosphere becomes kinetic energy for the skydiver.

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Ernest · Answer 1

B is the best answer. The skydiver's velocity is decreased (his acceleration is slowed) by giving some of his kinetic energy to the surrounding air, causing it to heat up. On a molecular level, his kinetic energy is being lost to increase the kinetic energy of the air molecules. Faster molecules in a gas means a higher temperature of the gas, or heat energy.