Ugh im so confused and its because i take things word for word in the textbook.
'The force of air ressitance acting on an accelerating falling body increases, until it balances the force due to its weight. At this point the object falls at its terminal velocity'
If the air resistance=force due to weight wouldnt he NOT be falling then ??
2007-01-10 18:55:51 · 6 answers · asked by Dabidu 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If acceleration = 0 then how does it keep falling? Sorry guys.
2007-01-10 19:09:15 · update #1
So uh, why doesnt the speed decrease?
2007-01-10 19:18:08 · update #2
Air creates drag. That's why the Space Shuttle Columbia burned up on re-entry in 2003. There was so much drag on the unprotected parts of the spacecraft that it burned up. While an object is falling its speed is increasing. Galileo said that all objects that are dropped will gain speed at an identical rate, whether it's a bowling ball or a feather.
Apollo 15 proved this theory on the Moon in a vacuum. Here's the video link to the demonstration:
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo_15_feather_drop.html
Once the drag that the air is creating MATCHES the kinetic energy created by the falling object, the forces "equalize" and the object will no longer gain speed. It's still moving, it's just not increasing its speed anymore. (In other words, "Terminal Velocity") On Earth, that is true, but in space the object will just keep on increasing its speed towards another, more massive, object.
A perfect example is when the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into Jupiter in 1994. As the pieces of the Comet were being drawn towards Jupiter's tremendous gravity, each piece's velocity kept increasing until it crashed into Jupiter's Atmosphere.
If you need further clarification, email me.
Mack
2007-01-10 19:02:30 · answer #1 · answered by Big Mack 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As far as i know, one the air resistance = force, then the acceleration will equal to zero. the body will fall down at the constant speed, till it hit the ground
2007-01-11 03:06:39 · answer #2 · answered by NowhereMan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Terminal velocity does not mean that resistance is = to force. It means that force increases until the air basically says "that's enough". So it fails to increase. The force (gravity) is still there, just not strong enough to keep the mass accelerating.
2007-01-11 03:01:36 · answer #3 · answered by Tumbling Dice 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
air resistance=force due to weight only means that its accelerator = 0
it keeps falling because it has intial velocity
2007-01-11 04:24:19 · answer #4 · answered by James Chan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first i want to clear one that if any two forces counter balance each other the object would be in equilibrium and in equilibrium there are two condition the object may be in static condition or it will be moving with constant velosity .. in both cases the forces balance each other and i think u can understand now
terminal velosity is constant velosity annd it means air resistance balance weiight
2007-01-11 03:10:42 · answer #5 · answered by uamir g 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Although acceleration is = 0,SPEED is not = 0.Thus,the body is able to continue falling.
2007-01-11 03:16:14 · answer #6 · answered by Cheng J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋