Terminal Velocity

• What is terminal velocity?

  Velocity remains constant with no acceleration
• What happens when an object reaches terminal velocity?

  It stops accelerating and maintains constant speed
• What force pulls a person downwards when they jump from an airplane?

  Gravity
• What is the force called that a person feels due to their mass?

  Weight
• How does the weight of a person change during free fall?

  It remains constant throughout the fall
• What is the resultant force when a person first steps out of the airplane?

  It is equal to their weight
• What force acts in opposition to weight during a fall?

  Air resistance
• What causes air resistance during a fall?

  Collisions with air particles
• What two factors affect the size of air resistance?

  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 the resultant force as a person accelerates downwards?

  It decreases as air resistance increases
• What does a velocity-time graph show during free fall?

  Velocity increases while acceleration decreases
• What occurs when air resistance equals weight?

  Resultant force becomes zero
• What is the effect of reaching terminal velocity on acceleration?

  There is no acceleration at terminal velocity
• What happens when a parachute is opened during free fall?

  Air resistance increases significantly
• How does the new terminal velocity with a parachute compare to the previous one?

  It is lower than the previous terminal velocity
• What are the key points about falling objects and terminal velocity?

  • Weight pulls downwards
  • Air resistance opposes weight
  • Resultant force causes acceleration
  • Air resistance increases with velocity
  • 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 relationship between weight and air resistance at terminal velocity?

  They are equal in magnitude
• What causes a person to decelerate after opening a parachute?

  Resultant force acts upwards