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What is the terminal velocity of a rain drop?

Updated: 5/21/2024
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Swolinnn

Lvl 1
14y ago

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That's innanswerable, take for instance rain, which comes in many different sizes, it's terminal velocity is reached when the force of friction becomes equal to the force gravity is applying on it. But as water groups together in different sizes and therefore when falling has different levels of friction it falls at different speeds and so the terminal velocity of water depends on the amount of water

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12y ago
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AnswerBot

1w ago

The terminal velocity of a raindrop depends on its size and shape, but typically ranges from 8 to 20 miles per hour. It is the speed at which the downward force of gravity is balanced by the upward force of air resistance, causing the raindrop to fall at a constant velocity.

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10y ago

A rain drop is accelerated by gravity at 21.9369 miles/hour per second but quickly reaches a terminal velocity of around 20 miles per hour (maximum speed) due primarily to air friction. Other factors include the size of the rain drop, rain fall density, wind speed and direction, pollution, pollen and dust particles and barometric pressure.

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14y ago

As a raindrop falls, some of the water evaporates (depending on relative humidity) leaving less mass. The size and surface area would also decrease, but at a slower rate than the decrease in mass. This would leave a raindrop with a higher surface area to mass ratio. Since air resistance is related to surface area, the smaller raindrop will have more relative air resistance for it's mass and will fall more slowly. Another factor would be the increasing density of the atmosphere as the raindrop approaches the Earth, slowing the raindrop even more.

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14y ago

Speed of falling rain drops depends on size and weight of the rain drops that is the bigger the faster and vice versa.However the average speed of falling rain drop range from 4.5 to 19 mph.

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14y ago

30 furlongs/wastebasket

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Q: What is the terminal velocity of a rain drop?
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Which fall faster big rain drop or small rain drop?

The viscosity of air provides a drag force on a raindrop and keeps it from falling with the acceleration of gravity. When a drop is falling (assuming it does not combine with other drops in the process) it will reach a terminal velocity which depends on its diameter. The larger the diameter the larger the terminal velocity. Specifically, the terminal velocity is proportional to the square root of the diameter of the drop. Big rain drops fall faster than small rain drops. See related links for details and equations.


Does rain reach terminal velocity?

No, raindrops do not reach terminal velocity because they are too small and have a low enough mass that air resistance slows them down before they can reach their maximum falling speed. Terminal velocity is typically reached by larger objects like skydivers or hailstones.


Why a larger rain drop falls faster than a small rain drop?

Considering the rain droplets as spherical body. We have two forces acting on the rain drop when it is falling through the sky, namely the resistance force due to friction(drag force)upwards and its weight downwards. Th rain drop falling from such distance attain a terminal velocity while falling i.e their speed becomes constant after sometime. This happens when the drag force equals the weight of drop,, this happens because drag force increases with velocity of the drop. Drag force= .5*rho*v2*A(frontal area)*Cd(coefficient of drag) Weight=m*g=rho*volume of spherical drop=rho*4/3*r3. When we equalize it, we get the Terminal Velocity(v) varying directly as sqr of r(radius of drop) So larger drop means, larger terminal velocity and hence less time taken for falling. So larger rain drop falls faster.


Clouds are very high in the sky but the rain-drops falling from the clouds havelow velocities as they reach the ground.?

Raindrops fall at low velocities due to air resistance and friction with the surrounding air. Gravity pulls them downward, but their small size and shape cause them to reach terminal velocity quickly, which is the maximum speed they can reach during free fall. This is why even though clouds are high in the sky, raindrops fall gently to the ground.


If a liquid is thick and you drop an object in to it is the terminal velocity larger or smaller?

If a liquid is thick, the terminal velocity of an object dropped into it is typically smaller because the thicker liquid offers more resistance to the object's motion, slowing it down more quickly than a thinner liquid would.


What is acceleration of a rain drop that falls at a constant velocity?

If the velocity is constant then there is no acceleration. The acceleration is zero.


What is the direction and magnitude of the net force acting on a rain drop falling down with constant speed?

If the raindrop is falling at a constant speed, then it has reached terminal velocity. This happens when the downward force (due to gravity) is the same as the upward force due to friction. As such the net force acting on the rain drop is 0.


What is the terminal velocity of a falling object on earth?

The terminal velocity of a falling object on Earth is typically around 120 mph or 195 km/h for a human-sized object. Terminal velocity is the constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium through which it is falling prevents further acceleration.


What is the reason for rain drops to fall with a constant speed by the time they reach earth?

Raindrops fall with a constant speed due to the balance between gravity pulling them downwards and air resistance pushing back. This equilibrium results in a steady descent speed for raindrops as they fall towards the Earth.


What does a parachute do to terminal velocity?

A parachute increases drag, slowing the fall of an object and reducing its terminal velocity. As the parachute deploys, it captures air and creates resistance, causing the object to fall more slowly towards the ground.


When gravitational forces and air resistance equalize on an object that is falling toward earth and the object stops accelerating its velocity is called?

In that case, the object is said to have achieved terminal speed.


What is the speed an on object reaches when the force of gravity is balanced by air resistance called?

terminal velocity