Skydiving as an aid to physics

This article uses available data on a falling skydiver and compares it with well-known theoretical predictions. The purpose of this exercise is to introduce a method of teaching about resistive forces and some basic physical principles that are both instructive and interesting. The use of skydiving as an instructional tool in physics classes can be very effective. The students are fascinated by the subject, have some fun, and at the same time learn a little physics, it has been one of my most enjoyable lectures to give.