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What is terminal velocity
Asked by Kishore Kumar Last Modified
Answer
Terminal velocity is the constant speed that an object reaches when the force of gravity pulling it downward is balanced by the air resistance pushing upward. At this point, the object stops accelerating and continues falling at a steady rate.
For example, when a skydiver jumps from a plane, they initially accelerate due to gravity, but as they fall, air resistance increases. Eventually, the upward force of air resistance equals the downward force of gravity, and the skydiver reaches their terminal velocity. For a human skydiver, this is usually around 120 mph (193 km/h), but it can vary depending on factors like body position and the density of the air
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Karunesh Dubey
A passionate physics tutor with 5 years of experience in tutoring JEE/NEET/ CBSE/ ISC students.
Terminal velocity is the maximum speed an object reaches when falling through a fluid (such as air or water), where the force of gravity is balanced by the drag force (air resistance or fluid resistance). At this point, the object stops accelerating and continues to fall at a constant speed.
### Key Points:
1. **Gravity**: The force pulling the object downward.
2. **Drag Force**: The resistance force exerted by the fluid opposing the object's motion. It increases with the object's speed.
3. **Equilibrium**: Terminal velocity occurs when the gravitational force equals the drag force, resulting in no net force and thus no further acceleration.
### Factors Affecting Terminal Velocity:
- **Mass**: Heavier objects have a higher terminal velocity because gravity exerts a greater force on them.
- **Cross-Sectional Area**: Objects with a larger surface area experience more drag, reducing terminal velocity.
- **Drag Coefficient**: A measure of how aerodynamic the object is. A lower drag coefficient means less resistance and a higher terminal velocity.
- **Fluid Density**: Higher density fluids (like water) create more drag, reducing terminal velocity compared to lower density fluids (like air).
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