Terminal Velocity

From our analysis of falling in air, we found that if an object falls long enough through a fluid, it will reach a terminal velocity. Let's look a little closer at this idea. forces on a falling baseball

Terminal velocity occurs when the air resistance (sometimes called "drag") force equals the weight of the falling object. This means that:
the object is falling with a constant velocity - its acceleration is zero.
heavy objects will have a higher terminal velocity than light objects. (Why? It takes a larger air resistance force to equal the weight of a heavier object. A larger air resistance force requires more speed.) Therefore, heavy objects will fall faster in air than light objects. (This doesn't happen in free fall.)

last update November 2, 2007 by JL Stanbrough