Question
What is terminal velocity?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Terminal velocity is the maximum velocity an object can reach as it falls through a fluid, such as air or water. At this speed, the force of gravity pulling the object downward is balanced by the drag force acting in the opposite direction due to the fluid. When these two forces are equal, the object no longer accelerates and continues to fall at a constant velocity.
The factors that influence terminal velocity include the object's mass, shape, and surface area, as well as the density of the fluid through which it is falling. For example, a skydiver in a spread-eagle position has a lower terminal velocity compared to a skydiver in a head-down position due to differences in surface area and aerodynamic drag.
In free fall, an object typically accelerates until it reaches terminal velocity, after which it continues to fall at this constant speed until it impacts the ground or the fluid's surface.
The factors that influence terminal velocity include the object's mass, shape, and surface area, as well as the density of the fluid through which it is falling. For example, a skydiver in a spread-eagle position has a lower terminal velocity compared to a skydiver in a head-down position due to differences in surface area and aerodynamic drag.
In free fall, an object typically accelerates until it reaches terminal velocity, after which it continues to fall at this constant speed until it impacts the ground or the fluid's surface.