Terminal Velocity

Front

What is terminal velocity?

Back

Terminal velocity is the constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium (like air) prevents further acceleration.

Front

What factors affect terminal velocity?

Back

Terminal velocity is affected by the object's mass, surface area, and the density of the fluid through which it is moving.

Front

What happens to a skydiver's acceleration as they fall?

Back

A skydiver's acceleration decreases as they fall due to increasing air resistance until it equals their weight, resulting in no net force.

Front

What is the role of air resistance in free fall?

Back

Air resistance opposes the force of gravity and increases with the speed of the falling object, eventually balancing the weight at terminal velocity.

Front

How does the surface area of a parachute affect drag?

Back

A larger surface area increases drag, allowing a parachute to slow down a skydiver more effectively.

Front

What is the relationship between weight and air resistance at terminal velocity?

Back

At terminal velocity, the weight of the object is equal to the air resistance acting on it, resulting in no net force.

Front

What does it mean when forces are balanced?

Back

When forces are balanced, the net force is zero, resulting in no acceleration according to Newton's second law (F=ma).

Front

How does a skydiver's velocity change during free fall?

Back

A skydiver's velocity increases until they reach terminal velocity, after which it remains constant.

Front

What is the significance of the term 'resultant force'?

Back

The resultant force is the overall force acting on an object, calculated by combining all individual forces; it determines the object's acceleration.

Front

What happens to air resistance as a skydiver accelerates?

Back

As a skydiver accelerates, air resistance increases until it equals the weight of the skydiver.