# A firefighter wearing a heavy backpack jumps from a stationary helicopter and lands on a rooftop. Describe what happens to the momentum of the firefighter from the moment they leave the helicopter until the moment they come to rest on the rooftop. Refer to the forces acting throughout.

> AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — 4.5.7 Momentum (Phys only) · Describe · 4 marks

> A firefighter wearing a heavy backpack steps out of a stationary helicopter hovering above a building. The firefighter falls and lands on the rooftop, coming to rest.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The firefighter has zero momentum when they leave the stationary helicopter
2. A resultant downward force (weight / gravity) acts on the firefighter, causing a change in momentum / increasing momentum
3. As the firefighter falls, momentum increases in the downward direction because the force causes a rate of change of momentum
4. On landing, a resultant upward force from the rooftop acts on the firefighter, reducing momentum to zero / bringing the firefighter to rest

## Key terms

- [momentum](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/momentum)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-firefighter-wearing-a-heavy-backpack-400f3e11) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.