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Terminal Velocity (2 of 3)

In the movie above, it is important that you notice the following things: (use the arrow buttons on the right side of the movie to go just one frame at a time)

  1. The sky diver on the left is twice as heavy as the one on the right.
  2. Initially the only force acting on the sky divers is the force of gravity (their weight).  Only as they start falling does the force of air friction (drag) begin acting on the parachutes.
  3. The faster they go, the greater the force of air friction.
  4. Even though the two chutes are identical in shape, the one with the greater driving force (the heavier person) requires a higher speed in order for the force of friction to cancel out the weight. The heavier person has the higher terminal velocity.

  5. The terminal velocity of each skydiver can be seen on the graph when the net force vs. time graph shows no net force (if Fnet is zero, acceleration is also zero).  Notice that the lighter person reaches terminal velocity first.
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