Typical IGCSE questions on terminal velocity and answers?

1. Define terminal velocity and explain how it is reached.

Answer: Terminal velocity is the constant speed that an object reaches when the drag force acting on it is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force of gravity. This occurs when the net force on the object is zero, causing it to stop accelerating and continue moving at a constant speed.

2. How does the mass of an object affect its terminal velocity?

Answer: The mass of an object does not affect its terminal velocity. Terminal velocity is determined by the balance between the drag force and the force of gravity, which are both dependent on the object's shape and surface area, rather than its mass.

3. A skydiver jumps out of a plane and reaches terminal velocity. How does the skydiver's speed change as they continue to fall towards the ground?

Answer: Once the skydiver reaches terminal velocity, their speed remains constant as long as the conditions (such as air density and wind speed) remain the same. The skydiver will continue to fall towards the ground at a constant speed until they deploy their parachute.

4. How does the surface area of an object affect its terminal velocity?

Answer: The surface area of an object directly affects its terminal velocity. Objects with a larger surface area experience more drag force, which can slow them down more quickly and reach terminal velocity at a lower speed compared to objects with a smaller surface area.

5. Explain how air resistance affects an object's motion as it falls towards the ground.

Answer: Air resistance, or drag force, opposes the motion of an object as it falls towards the ground. As the object accelerates due to gravity, the drag force increases until it reaches a point where it is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force of gravity, causing the object to reach terminal velocity.

Question 1:

Define terminal velocity.

Answer:

Terminal velocity is the constant speed an object reaches when the force of gravity pulling it down is equal to the force of air resistance pushing it up.

Question 2:

What factors affect terminal velocity?

Answer:

- Mass of the object
- Density of the fluid (air in this case)
- Shape and size of the object

Question 3:

How does the shape of an object affect its terminal velocity?

Answer:

Objects with a larger surface area and a streamlined shape will have a lower terminal velocity than objects with a smaller surface area and a more irregular shape.

Question 4:

Describe the motion of an object falling through a fluid.

Answer:

When an object is dropped into a fluid, it accelerates downwards due to gravity. As the object falls, air resistance increases, causing the object to decelerate. Eventually, the force of air resistance becomes equal to the force of gravity, and the object reaches its terminal velocity.

Question 5:

An object of mass 0.5 kg is dropped from a height of 50 m. The air resistance constant for the object is 0.2 Ns/m. Calculate the terminal velocity of the object.

Answer:

Terminal velocity is given by:
vt = (mg)/k
vt = (0.5 kg x 9.8 m/s²)/0.2 Ns/m
vt = 24.5 m/s

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