Terminal velocity

What is terminal velocity?

when a falling object is at it's MAXIMUM velocity - this is constant.

What happens at the start when a skydiver is falling?

The skydiver will initially ACCELERATE downwards due to it's WEIGHT acting downwards. A resultant force acts downwards.

What happens after a few seconds of falling for the skydiver?

The AIR RESISTANCE acting upwards will INCREASE as its speed is increases. The resultant force downwards decreases.

What happens if the drag force is bigger than a skydiver's weight?

They will SLOW down

How could you decrease the terminal velocity?

By increasing SURFACE AREA or FLUID DENSITY

What 2 forces are involved in a falling object through air?

Air resistance and gravity/weight

Which force is bigger initially when the skydiver steps out of the plane?

Gravity/weight

Which force is bigger when the skydiver opens their parachute?

Air resistance/drag

A sky diver reaches terminal velocity twice in his fall - which time is he travelling faster?

First terminal velocity section (without parachute)

How would you describe the forces acting on the skydiver when they step out of the plane initially?

Unbalanced

When the skydiver falls at terminal velocity how can you describe the forces acting on them?

Balanced/equal and opposite.

Fill in the gaps: The __________ ______ acting on the skydiver becomes ______ as drag _______.

resultant force; smaller; increases.