Terminal Velocity Flashcards
(7 cards)
Terminal velocity
When the velocity remains constant, so it is no longer accelerating or decelerating
What are the forces as soon as the skydiver steps out of the plane?
Weight will be the only force is there are no forces acting on it yet so the result in force will be the same size and direction of the weight force causing them to accelerate downwards 
Why does air Resistance/drag occur?
It is due to the collision between the person and the air particles that make up the air. So as the person falls and collide with the tiny air particles close the person down. The size of the resistance depends on how many collisions 
What do the collisions depend on?
The surface area higher surface area, larger area over which collisions can take place.
Velocity at which the person is moving as the faster they’re moving the more particles they will collide with.
What happens if the person velocity increases
The air resistance will increase as they will be colliding with more particles. because the weight is constant, the results him to force decrease by the same amount of air resistance increased. So the rate of acceleration will fall 
How will the person stop accelerating?
Because at some point, the velocity will increase so much that the air resistance will be the same size as the weight. This means the way, and the resistance will balance each other out so the resultant force will be zero. This means the velocity will not change.
What happens if the sky diver opens up the parachute?
The surface area would increase meaning the air resistance would also increase. Therefore, the resultant forced would then act upwards so it will accelerate upwards, therefore slowing down. The more they slow down the lower the air resistance will be so the resultant force upwards will get smaller until it resistance becomes equal to weight again.
