When analyzing Felix Baumgartner\'s dive for homework, you at one point addresse

Question

When analyzing Felix Baumgartner's dive for homework, you at one point addressed the question of how he was able to slow down in the course of his fall. There are actually several different ways his speed was reduced -- some under his control and some not -- and given our discussion of air resistance in class, you should have a good grasp of at least some of the ideas at this point.

Discuss at least two things that occurred to slow Felix down -- if at all possible, try to discuss one that was under his control and one that was not.

Explanation / Answer

Sixty five years ago today, Captain Charles Yeager became the first man to travel faster than the speed of sound in his X-1 aircraft. Daredevil Felix Baumgartner just became the first man to accomplish the same feat without a plane — or indeed any assistance at all.

In an almost unimaginable stunt, the 43-year old Austrian has jumped from a specially constructed balloon at over 128,000 feet (39km) above the earth, breaking the world record for high-altitude skydives and speeds in free fall. As you would expect, Baumgartner is no stranger to extreme sports. He is an accomplished BASE jumper and, using a carbon wing which was the first to free fall across the English Channel.

On this dive he broke not only the previous altitude record of 102,000 feet for a skydive, but likely the speed of sound and the record for fastest free fall during his descent.

For at least a day before the jump, Baumgartner consumed a "low-residue, low-fibre" diet on the orders of his medical team. They wanted his food to pass quickly through his body without any build-up of gas. In a low-pressure environment, the gas might expand and cause him severe internal pain – a condition known as barotrauma. For the same reason, Baumgartner, much like a deep-sea diver, also "pre-breathed" oxygen for two hours before his ascent in the balloon to help reduce the amount of nitrogen in his blood.

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