Terminal Velocity

• Terminal Velocity


  The maximum speed an object reaches when falling through a fluid (such as air)
• Terminal Velocity


  • Occurs when the force of gravity is balanced by the air resistance (or drag) on the object
  • Parachutes work by decreasing the terminal velocity of a falling object
• Objects Falling Through Fluids Reach a Terminal Velocity

  1. Force of gravity is much more than the frictional force slowing them down, so they accelerate

  2. As the speed increases the friction builds up

  3. This gradually reduces the acceleration until eventually the frictional force is equal to the accelerating force (so the resultant force is zero)

  4. It will have reached its maximum speed or terminal velocity and will fall at a steady speed
• On the Moon, where there's no air, hammers and feathers dropped simultaneously will hit the ground together
• On Earth, air resistance causes things to fall at different speeds


  The terminal velocity of any object is determined by its drag in comparison to its weight
• Terminal Velocity Depends on

  • Shape
  • Area
• Human skydiver


  • Without parachute open, terminal velocity is about 120 mph
  • With parachute open, terminal velocity is about 15 mph