The data used to generate weather forecasts are gathered by hundreds of weather balloons launched from sites throughout the
world. A typical balloon is made of latex and filled with hydrogen. A packet of sensing instruments (called a radiosonde) transmits information back to earth as the balloon rises into the atmosphere. At the beginning of its flight, the average density of the weather balloon package (total mass of the balloon plus cargo divided by their volume) is less than the density of the surrounding air, so the balloon rises. As it does, the density of the surrounding air decreases, as shown. The balloon will rise to the point at which the buoyant force of the air exactly balances its weight. This would not be very high if the balloon couldn’t expand. However, the latex envelope of the balloon is very thin and very stretchy, so the balloon can, and does, expand, allowing the volume to increase by a factor of 100 or more. The expanding balloon displaces an ever-larger volume of the lower-density air, keeping the buoyant force greater than the weight force until the balloon rises to an altitude of 40 km or more.
At the end of the flight, the radiosonde is dropped and falls to earth by parachute. Suppose the parachute achieves its terminal speed at a height of 30 km. As it descends into the atmosphere, how does the terminal speed change?
A. It increases.
B. It stays the same.
C. It decreases.
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