Terminal Velocity

Definition

Terminal velocity is the constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium through which it is falling prevents further acceleration. This concept is crucial in understanding motion, as it highlights the balance between gravitational force and drag force acting on the object, leading to a stable state of motion during free fall.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Terminal velocity depends on the object's mass, shape, and the density of the fluid it's moving through, leading to different terminal velocities for different objects.
2. For a skydiver in a belly-to-earth position, terminal velocity is typically around 120 mph (54 m/s), but this can change if they adjust their body position.
3. When an object reaches terminal velocity, it no longer accelerates and continues to fall at a steady speed until it encounters a surface or changes its motion.
4. The calculation of terminal velocity can be derived from balancing the gravitational force and drag force using equations involving mass, area, and drag coefficient.
5. Terminal velocity has practical implications in various fields, such as skydiving safety measures and designing parachutes to ensure controlled descent.

Review Questions

• How does the shape and orientation of an object affect its terminal velocity during free fall?
  • The shape and orientation of an object significantly impact its terminal velocity due to their influence on drag force. A streamlined shape reduces air resistance, allowing an object to reach higher terminal velocities compared to a less aerodynamic shape. For example, a skydiver can increase their terminal velocity by transitioning from a spread-eagle position to a head-down position, minimizing drag and allowing gravity to pull them down more effectively.
• Evaluate how understanding terminal velocity can inform safety practices in activities like skydiving or base jumping.
  • Understanding terminal velocity is crucial for developing safety practices in activities such as skydiving or base jumping. By knowing the maximum speed at which they will fall, jumpers can better plan their descent and deploy parachutes at appropriate altitudes to ensure safe landings. Additionally, this knowledge helps in designing equipment like parachutes that slow down descent effectively, enhancing safety and control during free fall.
• Synthesize the relationship between gravitational force and drag force in determining an object's terminal velocity and explain how this concept applies to real-world scenarios.
  • The relationship between gravitational force and drag force is central to determining an object's terminal velocity. When an object falls, gravitational force pulls it downward while drag force opposes this motion. Terminal velocity occurs when these forces are equal, resulting in no net acceleration. This concept applies to real-world scenarios such as skydiving, where understanding how these forces interact allows jumpers to predict their maximum speed and plan safe descents. It also plays a role in environmental science when studying how different species move through air or water at varying speeds.

Related terms

Drag Force: The resistance force experienced by an object moving through a fluid, which opposes the direction of motion and increases with speed.

Gravitational Force: The attractive force between two masses, which causes objects to accelerate towards each other, commonly associated with the weight of an object in a gravitational field.

Free Fall:

The motion of an object when it is falling solely under the influence of gravity, without any resistance from air or other forces.