1. The physics of falling In this section you will
be introduced to the idea of terminal velocity
know what factors can affect the size of the
terminal velocity
consider the forces that affect a falling object

2. We will look at how forces affect
the motion of the falling object.

3. velocity
Terminal velocity ?
time

4. velocity
Weight
What do we know
about the weight?
time

5. velocity
Weight
What do we know
about the weight?
It stays the same
time

6. velocity
What about the
drag (air resistance)?
No movement no drag!
As the object starts falling the drag
force is smaller than the weight so
the object accelerates
Weight
Eventually the drag force becomes
equal to the weight so the object
stops accelerating
(reaches it’s terminal velocity)
time

7. velocity
What about the
drag (air resistance)?
No movement drag!
As the object starts falling the drag
force is than the weight so
the object
Weight
Eventually the drag force becomes
to the weight so the object
stops accelerating
(reaches it’s )
time

8. increasing the mass of the object will the terminal velocity
Notes
Terminal velocity
velocity
all falling objects
reach a speed
this happens when
the weight and the
drag are
time
increasing the mass of the object will
the terminal velocity
decreasing the surface area will

9. increasing the mass of the object will increase the terminal velocity
Answers
Terminal velocity
velocity
all falling objects
reach a top speed
this happens when
the weight and the
drag are equal
time
increasing the mass of the object will
increase the terminal velocity
decreasing the surface area will

10. END