ANSWERS: 2
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Of course you're right, the opening of the parachute cannot possibly even stop the fall of the subject, let alone make him reverse directions! The proof is in the physics: a parachute works because as it opens, friction of the air passing upward causes it to slow down from air resistance. So that force is only present BECAUSE the entire assembly of man and parachute is falling -- if it were to reverse directions, the parachute would collapse from air pressure *above* it. As long as the man continues to fall, the resistance continues. Now, there is a remote possibility that if the man/parachute were to hit an extremely strong updraft of air, they could reverse directions, but it would not be because of some strange quirk of physics. I want 20% of that money, btw. Whoever bet against you on this was a fool.
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You only go upwards relative to the camera man. You just won a bet.
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