The Terminal Velocity of Falling Objects Depends on Their Shape and Area

Question 1

What is the accelerating force acting on all falling objects?

Answer 1

Gravity

Question 2

What stops gravity from making all falling objects accelerate at the same rate?

Answer 2

Air resistance

Question 3

How is the need for air resistance proved?

Answer 3

By dropping two unlike objects (mass) at the same time when there is no air, so they will hit the ground together r

Question 4

What does air resistance cause?

Answer 4

Things to fall at different speeds

Question 5

What is the terminal velocity of any object determined by?

Answer 5

It’s drag compared to its weight

Question 6

What does the drag depend on?

Answer 6

It’s shape and area

Question 7

1) What does a skydiver have without his parachute open?

Answer 7

Quite a small area and a force equal to his weight pulling him down

Question 8

2) at what speed do they reach a terminal velocity?

Answer 8

120 mph

Question 9

3) what does a skydiver have with their parachute open?

Answer 9

Much more air resistance and still only the same force pulling the, down

Question 10

4) what does this mean for their terminal velocity?

Answer 10

It comes right down to about 15mph, a safe speed to hit the ground at

Question 11

Once the skydiver has reached terminal velocity…

Answer 11

Resistance = weight