Air Resistance, Terminal Velocity, and Skydiving
The Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity Video Tutorial discusses the nature of air resistance and the factors that affect it. The influence of air resistance on a falling object is discussed and the reason objects attain a terminal velocity is explained. The reason more massive objects fall faster then less massive objects (air resistance included) is discussed in detail.. Numerous examples, illustrations, and animations assist in the explanations.
The video lesson answers the following questions:
- What variables affect the amount of air resistance on a falling object?
- What is terminal velocity and why is it obtained?
- Why is terminal velocity affected by mass?
Video
You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).
To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:
Additional and Related Learning Tools
Concept Builder: Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity
Students love Concept Builders! Join the love and try this Concept Builder - coordinated with the topics in this video.
Skydiving Simulation
Don't have the time, money, courage, and/or parental permission to skydive? Then try our simulation? It won't hurt anything. Change a variable and observe the result. Break a leg! Go for it!
Minds On Physics App#2, Mission NL11 - Air resistance
Need a workout? We have one! In fact, we have several with this Minds On Physics app. The first of three modules on the app pertain to Newton's Laws of Motion. And Mission NL11 is the perfect follow-up to this video tutorial.
Multimedia Physics Studio - The Elephant and the Feather - Falling with Air Resistance
It's an interested question: What would fall faster - an elephant or a feather? And why? Find out at our Multimedia Physics Studio page on the topic.
The Physics Classroom Tutorial: Newton's Laws - Free Fall and Air Resistance
Need a quick reference? We have one. It's our Tutorial. Find what you need about free fall and air resistance using the link above.
Teacher Resources
Teacher Toolkits
Teacher Toolkits provide teachers a collection of annotated links to vetted resources on the internet that are standards-based and multimedia reliant. We are providing links to three of our toolkits that might be useful to teachers who are planning lessons on topics related to this video:
Free Fall and the Acceleration of Gravity
Newton's Second Law
Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity \
Curriculum Corner: Newton's Laws Chapter
The Curriculum Corner provides classroom-ready Think Sheets that fuel great in-class discussions. The following think sheets may be particularly useful:
Newton's Second Law of Motion
Net Force and Acceleration
Newton's Second Law
The Elephant and the Feather
Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity
Skydiving
Physics Interactives
Our Interactives section provides short simulations that allow students to manipulate a variable and observe its impact upon a motion. Our Force Interactive is perfect for exploring the force-mass-acceleration relationship. It comes with two classroom-ready activity sheets. Our Skydiving Interactive focuses more on the effect of air resistance on the falling motion of an object.
Concept Builders
Students love Concept Builders. Teachers do also. They provide a great way to solidify your learning on a topic. They typically have three levels of difficulty or three different activities. This allows teachers to differentiate among students and among courses that they teach. Here are six that blend well with this video tutorial.
Net Force (and Acceleration) Ranking Tasks
Equations as a Guide to Thinking
Fnet = m•a
Air Resistance and Skydiving
Free Fall
Up and Down
Minds On Physics, Part 2: Newton's Laws Module, Missions NL10 and NL11
For serious learners of Physics, Minds On Physics will provide a rigorous mental challenge. This program is available on phones and tablets and will give students the workout they need to strengthen their Physics muscles and wrap their mind securely around concepts.
Physics Classroom Tutorial
Our written Tutorial is a reliable location to quickly brush up on a topic. The following pages provide a great complement to this video tutorial. Teachers often include a link to our Tutorial on their course page.
Newton's Second Law
Free Fall and Air Resistance
Acceleration of Gravity
Lesson Notes
Download (opens in a new tab) or view below
Slides
Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.