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 do we call the downward pull on a person due to gravity?

  Weight
• What remains constant for a person falling from an airplane?

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

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

  It causes them to accelerate downwards
• What force opposes the weight of a falling person?

  Air resistance
• What is air resistance also known as?

  Drag
• What factors affect the size of air resistance on a falling person?

  Surface area and velocity
• 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 a person accelerates downwards?

  Air resistance increases due to more collisions
• What happens to the resultant force as air resistance increases?

  Resultant force decreases as air resistance increases
• What does it mean when air resistance equals weight?

  Resultant force is zero, no acceleration
• What is the term for the velocity when forces balance out?

  Terminal velocity
• What is the effect of increased air resistance after opening a parachute?

  Resultant force becomes upwards, deceleration occurs
• What happens when a parachute opens during a fall?

  Surface area increases, air resistance increases
• What happens to air resistance as a person slows down after opening a parachute?

  Air resistance decreases as velocity decreases
• What is the new terminal velocity with a parachute compared to without?

  It is lower than the previous terminal velocity
• 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 until balanced.
  • Terminal velocity is reached when forces balance.
  • Opening a parachute increases air resistance.
  • New terminal velocity is lower with parachute.
• What happens to an object when it first starts falling?

  Weight is greater than air resistance
• What is the relationship between resultant force and acceleration?

  Zero resultant force means no acceleration
• What is the effect of a sudden change like opening a parachute?

  It alters the balance of forces acting