When a person parachutes from a plane, she travels at about 67 meters per second. When she pulls her cord and her chute opens, she slows to about 3 meters per second. If the velocity and acceleration are both considered positive before the chute opens, how do her velocity and acceleration change when the chute opens?

The questions have been asked in several important state and regional science exams in the United States. For example: TAKS-Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, New York State Educational Department Regents exams, California Standards Test, etc.