Terminal Velocity

• What is terminal velocity?

  Velocity remains constant with no acceleration
• What happens when a person steps out of an airplane?

  They experience a downward force due to gravity
• What force is felt as weight?

  Gravity pulling the person downwards
• What remains constant as a person falls?

  The magnitude of their weight
• What is the resultant force when a person first steps out of the plane?

  It is equal to the weight
• What happens to the resultant force as the person starts falling?

  It causes them to accelerate downwards
• What force opposes the weight during the fall?

  Air resistance acting upwards
• What is air resistance also known as?

  Drag
• What factors affect the size of air resistance?

  Surface area and velocity of the person
• How does surface area affect air resistance?

  Larger surface area increases air resistance
• How does velocity affect air resistance?

  Higher velocity increases air resistance
• What happens to air resistance when the person accelerates?

  Air resistance increases as velocity increases
• What happens to the resultant force as air resistance increases?

  Resultant force decreases as air resistance increases
• What does a velocity-time graph show as the person falls?

  The graph becomes less steep over time
• What occurs when air resistance equals weight?

  Resultant force becomes zero
• What is the result of zero resultant force on the object?

  No acceleration occurs
• What is terminal velocity defined as?

  Velocity remains unchanged during free fall
• What happens when a parachute opens?

  Surface area increases, increasing air resistance
• What is the effect of increased air resistance after opening a parachute?

  Resultant force becomes upwards
• What happens to the resultant force as the person slows down with a parachute?

  Resultant force decreases until weight equals air resistance
• How does the new terminal velocity with a parachute compare to the previous one?

  It is lower than the terminal velocity without parachute
• What are the key points about falling objects and terminal velocity?

  • Weight is the only force initially.
  • Air resistance increases with velocity.
  • Resultant force decreases as air resistance increases.
  • Terminal velocity occurs when forces balance.
  • Parachute increases air resistance, lowering terminal velocity.
• What happens to the resultant force when an object reaches terminal velocity?

  It becomes zero
• What is the effect of opening a parachute on the person's fall?

  It slows down the fall
• What is the relationship between weight and air resistance at terminal velocity?

  They are equal in magnitude
• What happens to the air resistance as the person falls faster?

  It increases due to more collisions
• What is the effect of air resistance on the acceleration of a falling object?

  It reduces the acceleration
• What happens to the velocity of a falling object as it accelerates?

  It increases until terminal velocity is reached