Stokes’ Law Terminal Velocity Calculator

FAQs

1. How do you calculate terminal velocity in Stokes’ law?
   • Terminal Velocity (Vt) = (2 * (ρs – ρf) * g * r^2) / (9 * η), where ρs is the density of the sphere, ρf is the density of the fluid, g is acceleration due to gravity, r is the radius of the sphere, and η is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid.
2. What is the formula for calculating terminal velocity?
   • See previous answer.
3. What is the difference between Stokes’ law and terminal velocity?
   • Stokes’ law is a mathematical model that describes the drag force experienced by a small sphere moving through a viscous fluid. Terminal velocity is the constant velocity reached by an object falling through a fluid when the drag force equals the gravitational force.
4. How do you calculate Stokes?
   • Stokes is not directly calculated but is used in Stokes’ law to describe the drag force on a sphere: Stokes = 6πηr, where η is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid and r is the radius of the sphere.
5. What is Stokes’ law and derive an expression for terminal velocity?
   • Stokes’ law relates the drag force on a small sphere moving through a viscous fluid. Terminal velocity is derived by equating the drag force to the gravitational force: Fd = mg, where Fd is the drag force, m is the mass of the sphere, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
6. What is the rule for terminal velocity?
   • Terminal velocity occurs when the drag force on an object equals the gravitational force, resulting in a constant, maximum velocity.
7. What is terminal velocity in GCSE physics?
   • In GCSE physics, terminal velocity is the maximum constant velocity reached by an object falling through a fluid when the drag force equals the gravitational force.
8. What is terminal velocity and the equation for terminal velocity?
   • Terminal velocity is the constant maximum velocity achieved by a falling object when the drag force equals the gravitational force. The equation is provided in the first answer.
9. Is terminal velocity the same as final velocity?
   • Terminal velocity is a specific type of final velocity that occurs when the forces on a falling object reach equilibrium. Not all final velocities are terminal velocities.
10. How do you explain Stokes’ law?
    • Stokes’ law describes the drag force experienced by a small sphere moving at low velocities through a viscous fluid. The drag force is directly proportional to the sphere’s velocity, radius, and the fluid’s dynamic viscosity.
11. How do you use Stokes’ law?
    • Stokes’ law is used to calculate the drag force on small spherical objects moving through viscous fluids, often in the context of fluid dynamics or particle settling.
12. What is the Stokes diameter formula?
    • The Stokes diameter (d) can be estimated from the radius of a sphere using the formula: d ≈ 2r.
13. What is an example of Stokes’ law?
    • An example of Stokes’ law is the calculation of the drag force on a small particle (like a dust particle or droplet) as it falls through a viscous fluid, such as air or oil.
14. What is Stokes velocity?
    • Stokes velocity is not a commonly used term in fluid dynamics. It may refer to the velocity of a small particle calculated using Stokes’ law.
15. How do you prove Stokes’ law?
    • Stokes’ law can be derived from the principles of fluid dynamics and the balance of forces acting on a small sphere moving through a viscous fluid.
16. Do heavier objects fall faster?
    • In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall at the same rate regardless of their weight. However, in the presence of air resistance, heavier objects may reach their terminal velocity more quickly.
17. What is terminal velocity for dummies?
    • Terminal velocity is the maximum constant speed an object reaches when falling through a fluid, where the upward drag force equals the downward gravitational force.
18. Why do falling objects reach a terminal velocity?
    • Falling objects reach terminal velocity because as their speed increases, so does air resistance (drag force), until it balances the gravitational force, resulting in a constant velocity.
19. What is the fastest an object can fall?
    • The fastest an object can fall depends on its size, shape, density, and the fluid it’s falling through. In Earth’s atmosphere, terminal velocities typically range from 50 to 200 miles per hour (80 to 320 kilometers per hour) for typical objects.
20. What is terminal velocity in GCSE answer?
    • Terminal velocity in GCSE physics refers to the constant maximum velocity reached by an object falling through a fluid when the drag force equals the gravitational force.
21. Do all objects fall at the same speed?
    • In a vacuum, all objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass. However, in the presence of air or other fluids, objects with different shapes and densities may fall at different speeds.
22. Will two objects fall at the same time?
    • In a vacuum, two objects released simultaneously will fall at the same rate and hit the ground at the same time, regardless of their mass.
23. Do all humans have the same terminal velocity?
    • No, humans do not have the same terminal velocity. Terminal velocity depends on factors like body position, shape, and surface area, so it can vary among individuals.
24. Can you go faster than terminal velocity?
    • No, an object cannot go faster than its terminal velocity while falling through a fluid because at terminal velocity, the drag force equals the gravitational force, and there is no net acceleration.
25. What flow does Stokes’ Law apply to?
    • Stokes’ Law is commonly used to describe the drag force on small particles settling through a viscous fluid, such as particles in a sedimentation process.
26. What are the limitations of Stokes’ Law?
    • Stokes’ Law is limited to small spherical particles moving at low velocities in highly viscous fluids. It may not be applicable in high-speed flows or for non-spherical objects.
27. Is Stokes’ law valid?
    • Stokes’ Law is valid for describing the drag force on small spherical particles in highly viscous fluids at low Reynolds numbers.
28. What is Stokes’ law only valid for?
    • Stokes’ Law is primarily valid for small spherical particles moving through highly viscous fluids at low Reynolds numbers.
29. What is Stokes equivalent to?
    • Stokes is a unit of dynamic viscosity in the International System of Units (SI).
30. What does a low Stokes number mean?
    • A low Stokes number indicates that the fluid flow has a greater influence on particle motion compared to inertia.
31. What is measured in Stokes?
    • Stokes is a unit of dynamic viscosity, which measures the internal friction of a fluid.
32. Why is Stokes’ law important?
    • Stokes’ Law is important for understanding the behavior of small particles in fluids, such as in sedimentation processes, and for estimating drag forces on objects in viscous environments.
33. What is the difference between terminal velocity and settling velocity?
    • Terminal velocity refers to the constant maximum velocity reached by a falling object in a fluid. Settling velocity specifically refers to the velocity at which a particle or object settles through a fluid under the influence of gravity and buoyancy.
34. Which would fall faster, a brick or a feather?
    • In a vacuum, both a brick and a feather would fall at the same rate, as there is no air resistance. However, in Earth’s atmosphere, the brick would fall faster due to its higher density.
35. What falls faster, a feather or a rock?
    • In the presence of air resistance, a rock would typically fall faster than a feather because it has a higher mass and experiences a greater gravitational force.
36. Does weight affect terminal velocity?
    • Weight does not affect terminal velocity, as all objects reach the same terminal velocity in the absence of air resistance. However, weight does affect how quickly an object reaches terminal velocity.
37. How long does it take a human to reach terminal velocity?
    • It typically takes a human about 12 to 15 seconds to reach terminal velocity during a freefall from a high altitude.
38. What is the terminal velocity of a human headfirst?
    • The terminal velocity of a headfirst human skydiver is approximately 120 to 140 miles per hour (193 to 225 kilometers per hour).
39. At what height do you reach terminal velocity?
    • The height at which a person reaches terminal velocity depends on factors like initial speed and body position but is typically reached within the first few thousand feet during a skydive.
40. Why does opening a parachute reduce terminal velocity?
    • Opening a parachute increases air resistance, which reduces the falling speed and brings a person to a much lower, safe terminal velocity.
41. Do bodies bounce when falling?
    • Bodies do not bounce when falling from significant heights because the impact with the ground can result in injury or harm.
42. Does terminal velocity exist in a vacuum?
    • In a vacuum where there is no air resistance, terminal velocity does not exist, and objects fall indefinitely with increasing speed.
43. Do heavier objects reach terminal velocity faster?
    • Heavier objects with higher mass tend to reach their terminal velocity more quickly due to their higher gravitational force.
44. How fast can gravity pull you down?
    • The acceleration due to gravity on Earth’s surface is approximately 9.81 meters per second squared (32.2 feet per second squared). This is the rate at which gravity pulls objects downward.
45. How far do you fall in 1 second?
    • In 1 second, an object in freefall will fall approximately 4.9 meters (16 feet) on Earth, assuming a constant gravitational acceleration of 9.81 m/s².
46. What is maximum velocity in physics?
    • Maximum velocity in physics typically refers to terminal velocity, which is the constant velocity reached by a falling object when drag force equals gravitational force.
47. What is the terminal velocity of a golf ball?
    • The terminal velocity of a golf ball is approximately 55 to 75 miles per hour (89 to 121 kilometers per hour) when dropped from a typical height.