BETA
How Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity Work
The northern flying squirrel uses a furry membrane called a patagium to stretch its surface area. This dramatic increase in drag limits its terminal velocity to a safe landing speed, allowing it to glide up to 90 meters between trees.
Chapter 1
The great fall: gravity versus air
Chapter 2
Terminal velocity: the speed limit of falling
Chapter 3
Catching the wind: the art of the parachute
Chapter 4
Slicing the sky: cheating drag on the ground
Ch 2 · Terminal velocity: the speed limit of falling
artiteacher Drag and drop objects to discover how air resistance affects falling speed.
artiteacher The physics of terminal velocity during Felix Baumgartner's stratospheric skydive.
artiteacher Terminal Velocity
Drag meets weight / speed stays straight / terminal velocity!
artiteacher Flying squirrels and geckos use skin membranes to survive massive falls.
Fun Fact
Ant survival: Ants can survive falls from any height because their tiny size limits their terminal velocity to a gentle 6.4 kilometers per hour.
artiteacher A belly-to-earth skydiver reaches a terminal velocity of about 120 mph.
Glossary
terminal velocity (noun)
The constant maximum speed achieved by a falling object when the resistance of the medium prevents further acceleration. In 2012, Felix Baumgartner reached a record speed of 843.6 miles per hour falling from the stratosphere.
The constant maximum speed achieved by a falling object when the resistance of the medium prevents further acceleration. In 2012, Felix Baumgartner reached a record speed of 843.6 miles per hour falling from the stratosphere.
Quiz
Why did Felix Baumgartner fall faster than the speed of sound during his 2012 jump?
Quiz
If two objects have the same size but different weights, which one has a higher terminal velocity?
Quiz
What is the typical terminal velocity of a human skydiver falling belly-to-earth?