Terminal Velocity (1 Viewer)

[.ben]

Can someone clarify what terminal velocity is? i've heard from somewhere it's as t approaches infinity, but cambridges says its the limiting value of v as a approaches 0. tahnks

 

[Affinity]

the upper bound of the speeds that could be achieved when an object is allowed to fall for any length of time

 

[pLuvia]

Terminal velocity is the limiting value of v as acceleration approaches 0

 

[Riviet]

You could also think of it as the maximum velocity that the object approaches as t->infinity.

 

[.ben]

O? so it's both?

 

[Riviet]

Yep, and usually letting a=0 is the easier way of finding terminal velocity.

 

[STx]

Yep, and usually letting a=0 is the easier way of finding terminal velocity.

hmm, yep letting a=0 makes it really easy without having to find an expression in terms of t, then using t-->infinity. Do you guys know if letting a=0 is allowed in the hsc as it seems more of a 'physics' perspective than mathematical.

 

[pLuvia]

It is allowed, because if acceleration approaches to zero the velocity will reach its maximum and it is seen in the displacement, velocity and accleration graph where maximum velocity is determined when acceleration is equal to zero