To determine the drag force acting on the skydiver, we start with the understanding of net force and its relationship with other forces acting on the skydiver. Specifically, in this scenario, the forces to consider are the weight of the skydiver and the drag force exerted by air resistance.
Let’s break down the given information:
1. The skydiver's weight is given as -540 N. This negative sign typically indicates that the weight is acting downward.
2. The net force acting on the skydiver is -275 N. The net force is a result of both the weight of the skydiver acting downward and the drag force acting upward.
The net force ([tex]\( F_{net} \)[/tex]) can be expressed as the sum of the weight ([tex]\( W \)[/tex]) and the drag force ([tex]\( D \)[/tex]):
[tex]\[ F_{net} = W + D \][/tex]
Given the weight ([tex]\( W \)[/tex]) is -540 N and the net force ([tex]\( F_{net} \)[/tex]) is -275 N, we can rearrange the equation to solve for the drag force ([tex]\( D \)[/tex]):
[tex]\[ D = F_{net} - W \][/tex]
Substitute the given values into the equation:
[tex]\[ D = -275 \, \text{N} - (-540 \, \text{N}) \][/tex]
When we subtract a negative value, it is equivalent to adding the absolute value of that number. Therefore:
[tex]\[ D = -275 \, \text{N} + 540 \, \text{N} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ D = 265 \, \text{N} \][/tex]
Hence, the drag force acting on the skydiver is 265 N.
