Free fall and Air Resistance Terminal Velocity

Free Fall Free-fall: Objects in free fall have only the force of gravity acting on them and the effect of air-resistance is so small that it can be neglected. “ All objects in free-fall will have the same rate of acceleration regardless of their mass. This is the constant that relates mass and weight of an object”

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Terminal Velocity The two most important factors affecting air resistance are: Speed of the moving object Surface area of the moving object An object that encounters air resistance eventually reaches a velocity called ‘terminal velocity’.

Terminal Velocity At terminal velocity, force due to air resistance is exactly equal and opposite to the force of gravity acting on the object. Result: Acceleration due to gravity is zero!! OR object experiences ‘weightlessness’!!

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Heavier Objects If there is air-resistance, why do heavier objects fall faster? Answer: Since the amount of air resistance depends upon the speed of the falling object, a more massive object will continue to accelerate to higher speeds in comparison with a lighter object, until it encounters an amount of air-resistance that equals their greater weight or force of gravity. So the terminal velocity of a heavier object will be higher

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P.S. If you drop an elephant from a sufficient height so that it has long enough time to encounter enough air resistance to balance the force of gravity, it will probably happen at an extremely high terminal velocity before it hits the ground. !!Ouch!!