what is terminal velocity?

Answer 1

It's the fall velocity at which air resistance exactly balances gravitational force, so the falling object no longer accelerates. However, it varies with air density, which changes as the falling object's altitude declines. Gravitational force also changes with altitude because it depends on the distance to the earth's center. As a result, a falling object is hardly ever going to fall at exactly its terminal velocity, since it has to "chase" the changing value of that velocity.

Answer 2

The terminal velocity of an object is the speed at which the gravitational force pushing the object downwards is equal (and opposite) to the air resistance (or atmospheric drag) pulling the object upwards.

When an object reaches terminal velocity, it stops accelerating and falls at a constant speed.

The reason why an object reaches terminal velocity is because the drag force resisting motion is directly proportional to the square of its speed. At low speeds the drag is much less than the gravitational force so the object accelerates. As it speeds up the drag increases until it eventually equals the weight.

Different objects have different terminal velocities due to their cross sectional areas. That's why things with a large surface area (parachutes) will have a lower ternimal velocity than a smaller object like a cannon ball.

Answer 3

The fastest an object can fall. Since gravity is a constant, the air resistance of an object determines terminal velocity. For example, once a parachuter reaches terminal velocity he/she can fall no faster without changing their orientation-arms in versus arms out for example.

Answer 4

The faster an object falls, the greater the wind resistance on that object. Terminal velocity is the velocity at which the force exerted by gravity equals the force exerted by the wind resistance (i.e., the forces balance, and the velocity remains constant.)

Answer 5

The fastest something can travel (fall) due to gravity. 200mph or so, depending on the shape of the object.

And 9.8m/sec squared is acceleration due to gravity, not terminal velocity.

Answer 6

loose fall terminal speed: even as something is falling it really is continually accelerating - getting swifter and swifter. yet depending on the shape and mass of the article, there's a optimal speed it may attain the position it received't go any swifter. not in any respect heard of latest terminal speed, inspite of a physics degree.

Answer 7

the acceleration of gravity is 33ft/sec/sec. terminal velocity is the acceleration minus the resistance of the air.

Answer 8

It's when the air resistance doesn't allow something to fall any faster

Answer 9

The fastest something can Fall

Answer 10

32 feet per second per second