At the end of its flight, a toy rocket begins to fall to Earth. When will it reach terminal velocity?

1 answer

Terminal velocity is the maximum velocity reached by an object during free fall when the force of drag equals the force of gravity, resulting in a net force of zero.

In the case of a toy rocket falling to Earth, the point at which it reaches terminal velocity depends on several factors such as the shape and size of the rocket, its mass, as well as the atmospheric conditions. The drag force acting on the rocket increases with the speed, while the gravitational force remains constant.

As the rocket falls, its speed increases, and so does the drag force. Eventually, the drag force becomes equal to the gravitational force, and the net force acting on the rocket becomes zero. At this point, the rocket reaches its terminal velocity, meaning it no longer accelerates and falls at a constant velocity.

The exact time at which a toy rocket reaches terminal velocity would require specific information about the rocket's characteristics and the atmospheric conditions. However, it generally takes some time for a toy rocket to reach terminal velocity, often a few seconds after it begins to fall.