- #1
bbq2014
- 20
- 0
Hi forum!
Why can't falling objects reach terminal velocity in the real world?
When an object drops (W = mg) it will experience drag force upwards. And since drag is proportional to velocity, both force will eventually be equal therefore, the object will not accelerate anymore, hence reaching terminal velocity.
So why is it assumed that the object is at terminal velocity when the object has reached 95% of its theoretical terminal velocity?
Are they assuming this in an ideal world where there is no air resistance and since in object will reach terminal velocity when t = ∞, and since an exponential function will never reach 0, terminal velocity cannot be reached?
Thank you for reading this!
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