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RedDeerGuy1's avatar

What is the terminal velocity falling from the atmosphere on Earth?

Asked by RedDeerGuy1 (24944points) July 30th, 2024

What is the physics behind it?

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4 Answers

Kropotkin's avatar

Where are you getting 120m/s from?

Terminal velocity depends on the mass of the falling object and the drag. It’s not a fixed number.

Gravity produces a constant acceleration, but as an object falls faster, its drag increases and slows the acceleration, until there’s zero acceleration—the terminal velocity

You can look up the terminal velocity formula online.

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

Sorry 120m/s^2 Is what I was taught in high school. I edited out of my question.

Kropotkin's avatar

Never believe what they teach you at school.

zenvelo's avatar

@RedDeerGuy1 That isn’t a velocity calculation, that is an acceleration calculation, because it increases for every second. But it is not related to gravity.

The rate of acceleration from gravity is 32 feet per second per second (9.75 m/sec/sec). Terminal velocity (where an item is no longer increasing in speed) for an 80 KG human is 240 kph.

Also, your question is stated incorrectly. We do not fall from the atmosphere, we fall through it. In outer space, there is no friction; gravity will act as a force to accelerate a body as long as no other body is exerting a force of gravity upon the body.

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