Terminal velocity

• What is terminal velocity?

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

  It is stationary in the air
• What force pulls a person downwards when they jump from an airplane?

  Gravity, felt as 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, also called drag
• What factors affect the size of air resistance on a falling person?

  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 a person accelerates downwards?

  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 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 happens when a parachute opens during a fall?

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

  Resultant force becomes upwards, decelerating fall
• What happens to air resistance as a person slows down after opening a parachute?

  Air resistance decreases as they slow down
• 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 pulls downwards due to gravity
  • Air resistance opposes weight
  • Resultant force determines acceleration
  • Terminal velocity occurs when forces balance
  • Opening a parachute increases air resistance
  • New terminal velocity is lower with parachute
• What happens to an object when there is no resultant force acting on it?

  It cannot accelerate
• What is the relationship between acceleration and resultant force?

  Acceleration occurs with a non-zero resultant force