Terminal velocity (including graphical representation)
I can use the equation F = m × a to determine and explain the motion of falling objects.
Terminal velocity (including graphical representation)
I can use the equation F = m × a to determine and explain the motion of falling objects.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- An object that is dropped experiences a constant gravitational force towards the centre of the Earth
- For a falling object, air resistance acts in the opposite direction to the gravitational force
- As a falling object speeds up, the air resistance pushing up on it increases
- When the resultant force on a falling object becomes zero, the object reaches terminal velocity.
Keywords
Gravitational force - is a non–contact force that attracts objects with mass towards each other
Drag - is a force of a fluid on an object moving through it, in the opposite direction to the object’s motion
Resultant force - is the overall effect of the forces acting on an object
Terminal velocity - is the velocity of an object falling through a fluid, when there is zero resultant force
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that as air resistance increases, a falling object decelerates (slows down).
Analyse footage of a falling object played back in slow motion, or frame–by–frame, to show that the speed of a falling object increases, up to a maximum speed, and at no time does it slow down.
To help you plan your year 11 physics lesson on: Terminal velocity (including graphical representation), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 physics lesson on: Terminal velocity (including graphical representation), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 physics lessons from the Forces make things change unit, dive into the full secondary physics curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Supervision
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Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
gravitational force -
Non–contact force that attracts objects with mass towards each other.
drag -
The force of a fluid acting on an object moving through it.
resultant force -
The overall effect of the forces acting on an object.
terminal velocity -
The velocity of a falling object when there is no resultant force.

c -
no resultant force: object has reached terminal velocity
a -
resultant force is high
b -
resultant force is low