How far would a person free-fall in ten minutes?

Answer 1

On earth (ignoring general relativity, and ignoring air resistance), using Newtonian formulae, acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s

s=ut+1/2at^2

s=distance=?, u=starting speed=0, t=time=10x60 seconds, a=acceleration, t=time

s=0+1/2x9.81x600^2

using a calculator..

1765800 meters

This answer would be more or less true in a uniform gravitational field in vacuum, which Earth is neither

maximum speed under air resistance for a human body is roughly 300 km/h

under air resistance, d=st, d=83 (m/s) x 600 (seconds) = 50 000 meters

neither of these answers would reflect reality, as the density of the atmosphere is also not constant...