Question

Which object would have the slowest speed at a terminal velocity?

A. 10 kg block with a small parachute

B.10 kg block with no parachute

C.50 kg block with a large parachute

D.50 kg block with no parachute

Answer 1

C. 50 kg block with a large parachute.

Reason: terminal velocity occurs when drag = weight. Using v_t = sqrt(2mg / (ρ C_d A)), v_t decreases as the parachute area A (and/or drag coefficient) increases. The large parachute produces the greatest drag, giving the smallest terminal speed despite the larger mass.