Weight and Terminal Velocity

Question 1

What is mass?

Answer 1

How much matter there is in an object, calculated in kilograms (kg)

Question 2

What is weight?

Answer 2

The force acting on an object as a result of Gravitational Attraction, measured in Newtons (N)

Question 3

How do you calculate weight?

Answer 3

W = mg or Mass * Gravitational Field Strength

Question 4

How do you calculate a force?

Answer 4

F = ma or Mass * Acceleration

Question 5

What is the acceleration of a falling object?

Answer 5

9.8 m/s²

Question 6

What is air resistance?

Answer 6

The friction of a falling object and the air that slows the object.

Question 7

What is Terminal Velocity?

Answer 7

The point at which the air resistance is equal to the weight of the object. The resultant force is now zero so it falls at a constant speed.

Question 8

What is another name for air resistance?

Answer 8

Drag

Question 9

What is the equation for a falling object?

Answer 9

F = W - Fdrag or Weight - Air resistance

Question 10

What happens when a skydiver’s parachute opens?

Answer 10

The air resistance is suddenly much greater than weight so this slows the object down massively.