Apothem said:Homework Statement
"How does air resistance affect terminal velocity"
Homework Equations
N/A
The Attempt at a Solution
I know most of the answer of this, however I am just wondering say take a parachutist for example, if the air resistance is the resultant force, then in order to reach terminal velocity the parachutist would have to decelerate until the air resistance=weight and hence terminal velocity is achieved, is this correct?
Air resistance, also known as drag force, is the force that acts on an object as it moves through the air. It is caused by the collision of air particles with the surface of the object and is dependent on the object's speed, shape, and surface area.
Air resistance acts in the opposite direction to an object's motion, slowing it down. As the object's speed increases, so does the force of air resistance until it reaches a point where it is equal to the force of gravity. This is known as terminal velocity.
Terminal velocity is the maximum speed that an object can reach as it falls through the air. At this point, the force of air resistance is equal to the force of gravity, resulting in a constant speed. Terminal velocity varies depending on an object's mass, shape, and surface area.
The shape of an object greatly affects the amount of air resistance it experiences. Objects with a larger surface area, such as a parachute, experience more air resistance than objects with a smaller surface area, like a bullet. Objects with a streamlined shape, such as an airplane, experience less air resistance than objects with an irregular shape.
Yes, air resistance can be reduced by changing an object's shape or surface area. For example, a person can decrease their air resistance while skydiving by spreading their arms and legs to increase their surface area. However, some objects, like airplanes, are designed with a streamlined shape to minimize air resistance and increase efficiency.