Question

At about 55 meters/sec, a falling parachuter (before the parachute opens) no longer accelerates. Air friction
opposes acceleration. Although the effect of air friction begins gradually, imagine that the parachuter is free
falling until terminal speed (the constant falling speed) is reached. How long would that take?

Answer 1

In free-fall, gravity is accelerating him at the rate of 9.8 m/s
every second.

So it would take him      (55/9.8) = 5.6 seconds to reach terminal
speed if air didn't affect his fall until he had reached it.