Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

APlusPhysics Community

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Retarding and drag force

Featured Replies

internet the formula shows as this: Vt=squs of(2W/Cd.A.p) >> where as Vt is terminal velocity. W is weight. Cd is the coeficient of >> the object mass, A is the frontal area of the affect area, p is the air >> density. >> Can't it be used to find out the terminal velocity?. Is that right??? To find an object's terminal velocity from free falling.

That formula only works for a specific object with a specific shape, and doesn't take into account some other factors -- it's an approximation.  It's a reasonable model for certain objects, but all models have limits.

 

To better answer your questions, it'd be helpful if you could elaborate on what you're trying to do... are you trying to prepare for an AP physics exam, are you trying to find the terminal velocity of an unknown object, are you trying to design an object with minimal drag?  Understanding what you're trying to do will help tremendously in answering your question to a higher level of satisfaction.  There are entire courses (and even fields of study) centered around understanding an object's terminal velocity and drag/retarding forces, and knowing what you're trying to accomplish will help tremendously in narrowing down the answer.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.