0
How does a parachute reduce the terminal velocity of a person falling through the air?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The parachute increase the surface area and so therefore increase air resistance, slowing the person down, and reducing terminal velocity.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is terminal velocity and what causes it?
Terminal velocity is an object's maximum speed while falling through the air, and it happens when the force created by air resistance is equal to the force of gravity.
Does the speed of an object in air continue to increase until it hits the ground?
It depends on how high it is when it start falling. If it is high enough, it will reach its terminal velocity and stop accelerating before it hits the ground. As an object is falling, it has to push through air below it. The faster it falls, the greater the air resistance (or drag) to the object. At some point, the amount of air resistance will be equal to the pull of gravity (its weight) and it will not be able to go any faster. We call this its terminal velocity, the maximum speed it can reach as it is falling through air. A larger or wider object will have more drag than a smaller object of the same weight and will have different maximum speeds. That is why a person falling from a plane with a parachute will stop going faster after the parachute opens and the drag increases because of the shape of the open parachute.
True or False terminal velocity is the velocity a speeding object reaches when it crashes?
Technically, its false.... Terminal Velocity is defined as "the constant maximum velocity reached by an object falling through the atmosphere under the attraction of gravity". The crash is simple a result of and the conclusion to the fall....
Does terminal speed and terminal velocity are the same?
Yes, but only in free-fall. If I'm driving at 60 mph, I have a constant velocity, but it's not my "terminal velocity" in the sense that there is no limit to my acceleration caused by air friction. But yes, an object in free-fall reaches its terminal velocity when its velocity stops increasing (acceleration=0).
What is the definition for terminal velocity?
As an object falls faster and faster it is slowed by friction with the air as it tries to push through. When this wind from falling is so strong that it balances gravity, so the object does not fall any faster, that it is the terminal velocity for that object.
The greatest velocity a falling object reaches?
The greatest velocity that a falling object can achieve is termed, terminal velocity. The equation for terminal velocity is equal to the square root of (2mg / (air density * projected area * drag coefficient))
What is the approx terminal velocity of a human in feet per second?
It depends. Surface Friction could vary. If a person was in the traditional parachute jumper freefall, it is slower and would never meet the terminal velocity of an individual falling through the air whereby his body is vertical.Statistics showthat a human falling through the air can reach up to speeds of 210mph (93metres per second) at the most.
What is terminal velocity and what causes it?
Terminal velocity is an object's maximum speed while falling through the air, and it happens when the force created by air resistance is equal to the force of gravity.
How fast do skydivers fall through the the air?
A skydiver, falling without an open parachute, will reach a terminal velocity of approx 200 km per hour (55 metres/second).
How would the terminal velocity of an object falling towards earth differ than the terminal velocity of the same object falling through water?
because water has higher viscosity than air so resisting the movement of the body in it more than air so decreasing the velocity
What is termanal velocity?
Perhaps you mean terminal velocity. This is the maximum velocity reached by an object falling to the ground when the acceleration due to gravity is matched by the drag resistance of the air through which it is falling.
Does the speed of an object in air continue to increase until it hits the ground?
It depends on how high it is when it start falling. If it is high enough, it will reach its terminal velocity and stop accelerating before it hits the ground. As an object is falling, it has to push through air below it. The faster it falls, the greater the air resistance (or drag) to the object. At some point, the amount of air resistance will be equal to the pull of gravity (its weight) and it will not be able to go any faster. We call this its terminal velocity, the maximum speed it can reach as it is falling through air. A larger or wider object will have more drag than a smaller object of the same weight and will have different maximum speeds. That is why a person falling from a plane with a parachute will stop going faster after the parachute opens and the drag increases because of the shape of the open parachute.
True or False terminal velocity is the velocity a speeding object reaches when it crashes?
Technically, its false.... Terminal Velocity is defined as "the constant maximum velocity reached by an object falling through the atmosphere under the attraction of gravity". The crash is simple a result of and the conclusion to the fall....
Does terminal speed and terminal velocity are the same?
Yes, but only in free-fall. If I'm driving at 60 mph, I have a constant velocity, but it's not my "terminal velocity" in the sense that there is no limit to my acceleration caused by air friction. But yes, an object in free-fall reaches its terminal velocity when its velocity stops increasing (acceleration=0).
What is the difference between free fall and terminal velocity?
The difference between free fall and terminal velocity i that free fall is when an object is falling or descending through the air with little air resistance or drag. Terminal Velocity, on the other hand is when the resistance of air and the force of gravity balance each other out causing the object to reach a constant velocity. .
What is the definition for terminal velocity?
As an object falls faster and faster it is slowed by friction with the air as it tries to push through. When this wind from falling is so strong that it balances gravity, so the object does not fall any faster, that it is the terminal velocity for that object.
The upward force of an ojbect falling through the air is?
Once the object reaches terminal velocity, the air resistance is equal to the gravitational pull.
