How Do You Calculate the Perfect Skydiver Exit Point from a Moving Aircraft?

[kher]

I am trying to calculate the perfect exit point from an aircraft for a skydiver (or anything else exiting a moving object in the sky).

It has been some time with my physics, so I hope someone here can tell me the formula for calculating the forward throw of a simplified skydiver (a ball) given certain constraints (e.g. zero-wind, constant air pressure, constant air density...)

I hope to end up with a function calcuating forward through (distance) of plane velocity, jumper's; weight, drag-koefficient and surface area.

Any help appreciated.

/Kim

 

[Aaron Barnard]

The equation you are looking for is the drag equation, which is as follows: Fd = (1/2) Cd A p v^2. Fd is the force of drag, Cd is the coefficient of drag, A is the frontal area of the object, p is the air density, and v is the velocity of the object relative to the air. To get the distance traveled by the object, you can then use the equation x = vt, where t is the time taken for the object to travel the distance.

 

[ravenprp]

Hello Kim,

Calculating the perfect exit point from an aircraft for a skydiver (or any other object) can be a complex task. However, there are a few key factors that can be taken into consideration to determine the optimal exit point.

Firstly, the velocity of the aircraft and the velocity of the object (in this case, the skydiver) must be considered. The air resistance or drag force experienced by the object will depend on its velocity and surface area. Generally, the higher the velocity and larger the surface area, the greater the drag force.

Next, the weight of the object will also play a role in determining the forward throw. Objects with a higher weight will experience a stronger gravitational force, which will affect their trajectory.

To calculate the forward throw, you can use the following formula:

Forward throw = (aircraft velocity + object velocity) x time

Time can be calculated by dividing the distance from the exit point to the ground by the average velocity of the object. This average velocity can be determined by taking into account the initial velocity (from the aircraft) and the final velocity (when the object reaches terminal velocity).

Other factors that can affect the forward throw include air pressure and air density, as you mentioned. These can be incorporated into the calculation by adjusting the drag force.

Overall, the best way to determine the perfect exit point would be through experimentation and trial and error. By adjusting the variables and observing the results, you can find the optimal combination for the desired forward throw. I hope this helps and good luck with your calculations!