A parachutist of mass 39.4 kg jumps out of an airplane at a height of 1340 m and lands on the ground with a speed of 5.78 m/s. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s². How much energy was lost to air friction during this jump?

Approximately 500kJ

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of energy which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be converted from one form to another.

A parachutist jumping out of the airplane covering a particular height and under the influence of gravity will possess potential energy during fall. Since PE = mass × acceleration due to gravity × height

PE = 39.4×1340×9.8

PE = 501,562Joules

If the body lands on the ground with a speed of 5.78m/s, this means the body possesses kinetic energy at the point of landing. The kinetic energy on landing is 1/2mv²

KE = 1/2×39.4×5.78²

KE = 658.14Joules

The amount of energy lost due to friction will be PE-KE

= 501,562-658.14

= 500,903Joules approximately 500kJ

the closer the planet is to the sun, the larger the gravity