- Terminal velocity is the constant speed that an object reaches when the force of gravity pulling it downward is balanced by the force of air resistance pushing it upward. - Terminal velocity occurs when the net force on an object is zero, meaning that the object is no longer accelerating. - The terminal velocity of an object depends on its mass, shape, and surface area. Objects with a larger surface area experience more air resistance and reach terminal velocity at a lower speed. - Terminal velocity is typically reached by falling objects such as skydivers, parachutists, and objects dropped from a height. - Terminal velocity can be calculated using the equation: Vt = √(2mg/ρACd), where Vt is the terminal velocity, m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, ρ is the density of the fluid through which the object is falling, A is the cross-sectional area of the object, and Cd is the drag coefficient.
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Google Gemini AI
14 hours ago
Terminal Velocity
- The constant velocity attained by an object falling through a fluid (e.g., air or water) when the drag force exerted on the object equals the force of gravity acting on it. - Occurs when the acceleration of the object due to gravity is balanced by the drag force due to the fluid. - Depends on: - Object's mass - Object's cross-sectional area - Fluid's density - Fluid's viscosity - Calculated using the following equation:
``` v = (2mg / ρAc)^(1/2) ```
where:
- v is the terminal velocity - m is the mass of the object - g is the acceleration due to gravity - ρ is the density of the fluid - A is the object's cross-sectional area - c is the drag coefficient
Factors Affecting Terminal Velocity
- Mass: Higher mass leads to higher terminal velocity. - Cross-sectional area: Greater cross-sectional area leads to higher drag force and lower terminal velocity. - Fluid density: Higher fluid density creates greater drag force, resulting in lower terminal velocity. - Viscosity: Higher fluid viscosity increases drag force, leading to lower terminal velocity. - Shape: Objects with streamlined shapes experience less drag force and have higher terminal velocities.
Applications
- Skydiving: Terminal velocity determines the maximum speed reached by skydivers before deploying their parachutes. - Aerodynamics: Designing aircraft and projectiles to achieve optimal terminal velocities. - Oceanography: Understanding the movement of marine organisms in water. - Meteorology: Predicting the trajectory of raindrops and snowflakes falling through the atmosphere. - Engineering: Calculating the terminal velocity of falling debris in building design.