Terminal Velocity, Summaries of Physics

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Terminal Velocity

D. Crowley, 2008

Terminal Velocity

◼ To understand terminal velocity 2018 年 10 月 23 日

Two Most Common Factors

that Affect Air Resistance

◼Speed of the Object

◼Surface Area

Air Resistance

◼ More massive objects fall faster than less

massive objects

Since the 150-kg skydiver weighs more (experiences a greater force of gravity), it will accelerate to higher speeds before reaching a terminal velocity. Thus, more massive objects fall faster than less massive objects because they are acted upon by a larger force of gravity; for this reason, they accelerate to higher speeds until the air resistance force equals the gravity force.

Positional

◼ What happens when you change position during free-fall? ◼ Changing position whilst skydiving causes massive changes in air resistance, dramatically affecting how fast you fall…

Skydiving Stages

◼ Draw the skydiving stages ◼ Label the forces ◼ Draw correctly sized force arrows ◼ Write a brief sentence explaining the forces experienced by the skydiver during the descent

Skydiving Stages

◼ Stage 2 – eventually the force of the air resistance has increased so much that it is the same size as the skydiver’s weight – the forces are balanced and the speed remains constant (this is terminal velocity)

Skydiving Stages

◼ Stage 3 – when the chute opens air resistance increases dramatically: the air resistance force is much greater than the weight force, so the skydiver slows down

Skydive

Physics of Sky Diving James Bond and Terminal Velocity

Terminal Velocity

◼ When vehicles and free-falling objects first move they have much more force accelerating them than resistance which is trying to slow them ◼ As speed increases resistance builds up – gradually reducing the acceleration ◼ Eventually the resistance forces is equal to the accelerating force and the object remains at a constant speed (terminal velocity)

Velocity-Time Graph

Velocity Time Speed increases… Terminal velocity reached… Parachute opens – diver slows down New, lower terminal velocity reached (^) Diver hits the ground