Why falling stops speeding up

Science · Forces & Motion · ages 14-16

Name ______________________ Date ____________

When does terminal velocity happen?
- All forces vanish
- Drag equals weight
- Weight becomes zero
Which way does drag push on a falling object?
- Against the motion, resisting it
- With the motion, speeding it up
- Sideways, turning the fall
Drag grows as the object goes faster.
Circle one: True False
A skydiver carries a heavier load under the same parachute. What happens to terminal velocity?
- Higher terminal velocity
- Lower terminal velocity
- No change at all
A skydiver swaps to a much larger parachute. What happens to terminal velocity?
- Higher terminal velocity
- No change at all
- Lower terminal velocity
After the parachute opens, the skydiver keeps the same terminal velocity as before.
Circle one: True False
Why does a raindrop stop speeding up long before it reaches the ground?
- Gravity switches off halfway down
- Drag grows to equal its weight
- Its mass grows as it falls
Which order tells the skydiver story on a velocity-time graph?
- Steep rise, flattening, dip, new lower flat
- Flat, steep rise, dip, lower flat
- Dip first, then steep rise forever

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Drag equals weight · Balanced forces give zero resultant and steady speed.
Against the motion, resisting it · Drag always pushes the opposite way to the motion.
True · Faster motion through air or water meets stronger resistance.
Higher terminal velocity · More weight needs more drag to balance, which needs more speed.
Lower terminal velocity · Bigger area means more drag, so balance comes sooner.
False · Drag leaps up, so the skydiver slows to a new lower top speed.
Drag grows to equal its weight · Small light drops reach balance quickly and fall steady.
Steep rise, flattening, dip, new lower flat · Speed builds, levels off, drops at the parachute, then levels lower.