Gravity and Air Resistance Quick Check
What happens when a falling object reaches terminal velocity?
it slows down.
it stops accelerating
It speeds up
it hits the ground and stops.
2. How does a falling object’s surface area affect calculations of terminal velocity?
The greater the objects surface area, the more air resistance it encounters
The greater the objects surface area, the greater the air density
Surface area does not affect an object’s terminal velocity
The greater the object’s surface area, the greater it’s terminal velocity
To answer the first question, we need to understand what terminal velocity is. When an object falls through the air, two forces act upon it: gravity pulling it downward and air resistance pushing against it. At first, the force of gravity is greater than the air resistance, causing the object to accelerate. However, as the object gains speed, the air resistance becomes stronger.
Terminal velocity is the maximum speed at which the object can fall. At this point, the force of gravity and the force of air resistance are balanced, which means there is no net force acting on the object. When the object reaches terminal velocity, it stops accelerating and the speeds at which it falls become constant.
Therefore, the correct answer is that when a falling object reaches terminal velocity, it stops accelerating.
Now, let's move on to the second question regarding the impact of surface area on calculations of terminal velocity.
The surface area of a falling object does indeed affect the calculations of terminal velocity. The larger the surface area of the object, the more air resistance it encounters. This is because a larger surface area means more air molecules collide with the object, creating greater resistance against its motion.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the greater the object's surface area, the more air resistance it encounters. This increased air resistance will ultimately impact the object's terminal velocity and cause it to fall at a slower speed compared to an object with a smaller surface area.