awesomeride 0 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 i was reading all these websites that say the giant drop reaches 'almost terminal velocity'.. what is it's terminal velocity and how do you work it out? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gazza 2,263 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 This probably explains it better than me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_velocity As you can see, its a pretty complex thing to work out. But basically, if there was no air friction things would keep accelerating at 9.8 ms^-2 until they hit the ground. But in reality air friction causes drag, and the faster you are moving the more drag occurs. When it is falling fast enough the upward drag forces will equal the downward weight force of the object, and since the net force on it is zero it stops accelerating, and just keeps falling at a constant rate instead. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joz 2,794 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Seriously, whats to get? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spotty 173 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I think if I tried to work that sum out, my head or calculator would explode! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Derwan 0 Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 what is it's terminal velocity? Bloody fast!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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