Terminal velocity Flashcards
What is terminal velocity?
Terminal velocity is the fastest speed that an object can reach when falling.
When is terminal velocity reached?
Terminal velocity is reached when the upward and downward acting forces are balanced.
What happens to the resultant force at terminal velocity?
The resultant force on the object reaches zero.
What occurs when the resultant force is zero?
The object no longer accelerates and a constant terminal velocity is reached.
What two forces do falling objects experience?
Falling objects experience weight and air resistance.
How does air resistance change as an object’s speed increases?
The force of air resistance increases as the object’s speed increases.
Why does air resistance increase with speed?
This is because the object collides with air particles as it moves through the air.
What happens to the weight of the object during free fall?
The weight of the object does not change.
What is the formula for weight?
Weight (W) equals mass (m) times gravitational acceleration (g).
What happens when a skydiver steps out of the plane?
At the instant the skydiver steps out of the plane, the only force exerted on them is the weight force.
What is the resultant force on the skydiver just after jumping?
There is a downward acting resultant force on the skydiver equal to the weight force.
What happens to the skydiver’s acceleration after jumping?
The skydiver accelerates downward at maximum acceleration.
What happens to air resistance as the skydiver begins to fall?
The force of air resistance is very small because the skydiver’s speed is small.
What is the resultant force on the skydiver as they fall?
The resultant force is equal to the weight force minus the force of air resistance.
What happens to the skydiver’s acceleration as they fall?
The skydiver accelerates downward but the acceleration decreases.
How does the speed of the skydiver affect air resistance?
As the skydiver accelerates, their speed increases, so the force of air resistance increases.
What happens to the resultant force as the skydiver’s speed increases?
The resultant force is equal to the weight force minus the force of air resistance.
What occurs as the skydiver’s acceleration continues to decrease?
The skydiver accelerates downward but the acceleration continues to decrease.
What happens to the skydiver’s speed as their acceleration decreases?
As the skydiver’s acceleration decreases, their speed increases at a slower and slower rate.
What is the condition for reaching terminal velocity?
Eventually, the skydiver reaches a speed at which the force of air resistance is equal to the force of weight.
What happens when the forces are balanced?
The resultant force is zero, the skydiver no longer accelerates, and a constant velocity is reached.
What is terminal velocity?
This is terminal velocity.
