Explain what the terminal velocity of an object is.
The terminal velocity of an object is the highest velocity it can reach when falling through a defined medium, usually air in practice. This constant velocity is achieved when the net force applied to the object is zero, this means that the resistance is equal to the force being applied by gravity. To put this into a real life example, if you were to throw a ball off a helicopter it would accelerate at a decreasing rate until it reached a speed so high that the air resistance it was experiencing was equal to the force that gravity applied to it. Applying Newton's 1st and 2nd laws, we can work out that this means it will continue at an unchanged velocity until its hits the ground.There are multiple factors which affect an objects terminal velocity. These include its weight and aerodynamics. The terminal velocity will also be different in different fluids. For example any object will have a lower terminal velocity in water than in air due to its higher density.
Related Physics GCSE answers
All answers ▸A 15kg cannonball and a 1kg football are dropped to the ground from a height of 10 metres. Calculate the speed of the cannonball and of the football just before they hit the ground (you may ignore air resistance).
A ball of mass 1kg is rolled down a hill of height 10m. At the bottom it collides with another ball of mass 5kg. What speed does the second ball move away with? You can assume the collision between the balls is elastic.
Can you explain the difference between a real and a virtual image?
a bat emits sound waves with a range of wavelengths. Some of the sound waves will be diffracted by the insect. Complete the following sentences to explain why. [2 marks] Diffraction is caused by the sound waves _______________________________________