Does Falling Speed Differ from speed?

In summary, the question is whether the vertical falling speed of an object remains constant regardless of its horizontal speed, and specifically, if a bullet will hit the ground at the same time when dropped and when fired horizontally. Air resistance will make the bullet fall slower, but the effect is minimal. When fired, the bullet experiences both horizontal and vertical forces, with friction opposing in both directions. When not fired, there is only a vertical force acting on the bullet.
  • #1
aosome23
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Hello,

This is a quick question that I want to know,
When an object falls, does the vertical falling speed stay the same with any horizontal speed?

To be more clear about this question, this is an example:
There is a bullet.
1. The bullet falls from 10 meters above the ground without any change in rotation.
2. The bullet is fired from 10 meters above the ground, again without any change in rotation.I know that it will hit the ground at the same time if there is no air resistance but I don't know which one will hit the ground earlier where there is air resistance? Will the speed of the bullet matter? Does air actually make it fall slower?

Thank you.
 
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  • #2
Yes air will make it fall slower, but in the case of a bullet, very little. Friction always acts directly opposite to the direction of motion.

For your question, you can break the forces up into their components. There is an initial force horizontally when the bullet is shot, so friction will oppose in the horizontal direction. There is also a gravitational force pointed downwards, where the friction is opposing upwards. When the bullet isn't shot, there will be no horizontal force, but that will not effect the vertical force.
 
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1. Does an object's weight affect its falling speed?

Yes, an object's weight does affect its falling speed. The heavier the object, the faster it will fall due to the force of gravity pulling it downwards. However, in the absence of air resistance, all objects will fall at the same rate regardless of their weight.

2. How does air resistance affect falling speed?

Air resistance, also known as drag, will slow down the speed of a falling object. This is because as the object moves through the air, the air molecules push against it in the opposite direction, creating a force that slows down the object's descent. The larger the surface area of the object, the more air resistance it will experience and the slower it will fall.

3. Does the height from which an object is dropped affect its falling speed?

Yes, the height from which an object is dropped does affect its falling speed. The higher the object is dropped from, the more time it has to accelerate due to the force of gravity. This means that the object will reach a higher speed as it falls from a greater height.

4. Does an object's shape affect its falling speed?

Yes, an object's shape can affect its falling speed. Objects with a larger surface area, such as a parachute, will experience more air resistance and thus fall slower than objects with a smaller surface area. Objects with a streamlined shape, such as a bullet, will experience less air resistance and fall faster.

5. How does the medium through which an object falls affect its falling speed?

The medium through which an object falls, such as air or water, can affect its falling speed. In general, objects will fall faster through denser mediums, such as water, due to the increased resistance. However, the exact speed will also depend on the object's shape and weight. In a vacuum, where there is no medium, objects will fall at the same rate regardless of their shape or weight.

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