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.
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.
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.
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
Equipment
None required.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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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