- #1
TelusPig
- 15
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Why do different objects having the same mass but different projected surface areas have different terminal velocities? On wikipedia, the formula for terminal velocity is Vt = sqrt (2mg/pAC) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_ve ...
I understand from this formula that the terminal velocities would be different since objects with a higher surface area would have lower terminal velocities.
What I don't understand is that if both objects have the same mass, they have they same gravitational force Fg. Terminal velocity means that the net force of the drag force (Fd) and Fg is 0. So in order to reach the terminal velocity, wouldn't the drag have to be the same for each object for Fg to equal -Fd, thus making the terminal velocities the same in each case ?
So... I don't know it seems contradictory depending on how I look at this problem? (I'm not good with physics )
I understand from this formula that the terminal velocities would be different since objects with a higher surface area would have lower terminal velocities.
What I don't understand is that if both objects have the same mass, they have they same gravitational force Fg. Terminal velocity means that the net force of the drag force (Fd) and Fg is 0. So in order to reach the terminal velocity, wouldn't the drag have to be the same for each object for Fg to equal -Fd, thus making the terminal velocities the same in each case ?
So... I don't know it seems contradictory depending on how I look at this problem? (I'm not good with physics )
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