Physics Topic Practice

Terminal Velocity and Air Resistance | GCSE Physics

Objects falling through a fluid eventually reach a constant speed called terminal velocity.

What is the sum of forces on an object at terminal velocity?

What is Terminal Velocity and Air Resistance | GCSE Physics?

"The constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium through which it is falling prevents further acceleration."

Question 1

What is the resultant force on an object if a 10N force acts right and a 4N force acts left?

Question 2

Which of these is the correct vector equivalent of 'Distance'?

Question 3

An object moves at a constant velocity. What is the resultant force?

Question 4

What is the unit of the spring constant (k)?

Air Resistance

Initial fall: Acceleration is high (Weight > Drag).

As speed increases, air resistance (drag) increases.

Eventually, Drag = Weight.

Resultant force becomes zero and acceleration stops.

Exam Tip

Graph Tip: A velocity-time graph for terminal velocity starts steep and levels off into a horizontal line.

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