Lab 4.1: Drag Force & Terminal Velocity

These flashcards cover key concepts regarding drag force, terminal velocity, and the principles of motion and forces as presented in Lab 4.1.

Drag Force

The force acting on an object moving through the air, resulting from collisions with air molecules.

Terminal Velocity

The constant velocity reached by an object when the drag force equals the gravitational force, resulting in zero net force.

Free Body Diagram

A graphical representation showing all the forces acting on an object.

Newton’s Second Law

A principle stating that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma).

Air Resistance

A type of friction that acts against the motion of an object through the air.

Mass of the object

The amount of matter in an object, which affects its gravitational force.

Competing models for drag force

Different theoretical equations used to describe how drag force behaves as speed changes.

Acceleration becomes zero

Occurs when the net force acting on an object is zero, leading to a constant velocity.

Drag Force

The force acting on an object moving through the air, resulting from collisions with air molecules.

Terminal Velocity

The constant velocity reached by an object when the drag force equals the gravitational force, resulting in zero net force.

Free Body Diagram

A graphical representation showing all the forces acting on an object.

Newton's Second Law

A principle stating that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma).

Air Resistance

A type of friction that acts against the motion of an object through the air.

Mass of the object

The amount of matter in an object, which affects its gravitational force.

Competing models for drag force

Different theoretical equations used to describe how drag force behaves as speed changes.

Acceleration becomes zero

Occurs when the net force acting on an object is zero, leading to a constant velocity.

Net Force

The vector sum of all individual forces acting on an object.

Factors Affecting Drag Force

Include the object's shape, frontal area, speed, and the density of the fluid it moves through.

Gravitational Force

The force of attraction between any two masses, commonly referring to the Earth's pull on an object (F_g = mg).