Flashcards in Falling safely Deck (7):
1
what can frictional forces do (drag, friction, air
resistance)?
- act against the movement
• lead to energy loss and inefficiency
• can be reduced (shape, lubricant)
2
Explain how objects falling through the Earth’s
atmosphere reach a terminal speed.
When objects fall through the Earth's atmosphere they get faster and faster until they reach a speed where the upwards force (air resistance) and downwards force (weight) equal each other. At this point the object travels at its fastest speed called terminal speed.
3
Understand why falling objects do not experience
drag when there is no atmosphere.
If there is no atmosphere there can be no air resistance (drag). This means that falling objects can not slow down.
4
Understand that gravitational field strength or
acceleration due to gravity:
• is unaffected by atmospheric changes
• varies slightly at different points on the Earth’s
surface
• will be slightly different on the top of a mountain
or down a mineshaf
5
what is acceleration due to gravity the same as?
same for any object at a given point on the Earth’s
surface.
6
Explain, in terms of balance of forces, why objects
reach a terminal speed:
When the weight is bigger than the air resistance then the object speeds up. When the air resistance is bigger than the weight, then the object slows down. If the air resistance is the same as the weight then the forces are balanced and the object continues at the same speed.
7