How many miles per hour is terminal velocity?

The terminal velocity speed changes depending on the weight of the object falling, its surface area and what it’s falling through.

For example, a feather doesn’t weigh much and presents a very large surface area to the air as it falls. So its terminal velocity speed is much slower than a rock with the same weight.

The terminal velocity of a skydiver in a free-fall position, where they’re falling with their belly towards the Earth is about 195 km/h (122 mph).

The terminal velocity of a falling body occurs during free fall when a falling body experiences zero acceleration. This is because of the retarding force known as air resistance.

Air resistance exists because air molecules collide into a falling body creating an upward force opposite gravity. This upward force will eventually balance the falling body's weight. It will continue to fall at constant velocity known as the terminal velocity.

To learn more, refer to the following sources below:

hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

www.universetoday.com

hypertextbook.com

Wednesday, June 22 2016


Source: http://www.universetoday.com/73617/terminal-velocity/

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