A skydiver jumped out of an airplane. On reaching a terminal speed of \({\text{60 m}}\,{{\text{s}}^{ - 1}}\), she opened her parachute. Which of the following describes her motion after opening her parachute?

A.     She went upwards for a short time, before falling to Earth at a speed of \({\text{60 m}}\,{{\text{s}}^{ - 1}}\).

B.     She continued downwards at \({\text{60 m}}\,{{\text{s}}^{ - 1}}\), but hit the ground with less force.

C.     She continued to fall but reached a new terminal speed of less than \({\text{60 m}}\,{{\text{s}}^{ - 1}}\).

D.     She went upwards for a short time, before falling to Earth at a speed of less than \({\text{60 m}}\,{{\text{s}}^{ - 1}}\).

C

The correct response was selected by the majority of candidates but a large proportion assumed that on deployment of the parachute, the parachutist would travel upwards. This was presumably as a result of having seen film of parachutists, where the parachutist being filmed appears to travel upwards relative to the camera, as their parachute is deployed.