As a skydiver jumps from the plane, he accelerates

downward, gaining speed with each second he falls due to

gravity.
The speed of the skydiver increases until the air resistance
is equal to the force of gravity, which is called terminal
velocity.

This speed is about 100 km per hour and hence unsafe for
landing

A skydiver goes faster in a V position than a spread

eagle because there is less surface area pointing towards
the resisting force

To reduce the terminal velocity to safe limits, he opens his

chute, which increases air resistance.

The increased area of the chute increases the air

resistance and reduces terminal velocity to limits safe for
landing on the ground