Explaining the concept of terminal velocity and the forces acting on an object in free fall. Terminal velocity is defined as the highest velocity attained by an object falling through a fluid. It is observed when the sum of the drag forces is equal to the downward gravity force acting on the object.
1. Terminal Velocity Gravitational force v Upthrust
2. Gravitational Acceleration • Gravitational acceleration is the acceleration of an object in free fall within a vacuum ( and thus without experiencing drag/upthrust ) due to the force of gravity. • On earth, the acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s^-2 • F = ma • Theoretically, an object would keep accelerating and increasing in velocity as it falls towards the earth BUT real life is not a vacuum and thus there is a second opposing force known as drag/air resistance
3. The force of Air resistance • As an object falls, it accelerates, thus its velocity increases • As the velocity increases however, the downwards force of gravity is increasingly opposed by the upwards force of air resistance • The faster the object travels the greater the air resistance
4. The forces on a freefalling object • As an object falls its velocity increases due to the downwards force of gravity • HOWEVER the upwards opposing force of air resistance/drag also increases as the object gains velocity • The objects weight ( the downwards force due to gravity) remains constant as the upthrust increases thus the rate at which the object gains velocity ( the downwards acceleration decreases). • This continues until terminal velocity is reached.
5. Terminal velocity • Terminal velocity is the maximum speed reached by an object in free fall in a fluid. • At terminal velocity, the downwards force of gravity (weight) is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the opposing force of air resistance acting on the object. • The net force on the falling object is thus 0N as it falls at a constant speed, thus in equilibrium.
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