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How does the terminal velocity of an object depend on the height it is dropped from?

Physics IA

Candidate number: kcm515

Session: May 2023

Page count: 12

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Index
INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………. 3
- 1.1 Aim
- 1.2 Research Question
- 1.3 Rationale
- 1.4 Background Information

EXPLORATION……………………………………………………………………….6
- 2.1 Independent variables
- 2.2 Dependent variables
- 2.3 Control variable
- 2.4 Procedure
- 2.5 Apparatus
- 2.6 Experiment

EVALUATION………………………………………………………………………...12
- 3.1 Analysis
- 3.2 Conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………...15
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Aim

The aim of this experiment to calculate the terminal velocity of an object when it is dropped
from different heights. To calculate the terminal velocity, we need: density, drag coefficient,
projected area, gravity, mass of the object. All these are factors effecting terminal velocity.

1.2 Research Question

Calculating how height effects terminal velocity to compare if there is a difference in the
terminal velocity of the object when the height is changed, does the terminal velocity remain
the same or does it change to a certain extent?

1.3 Rationale

I am a national swimmer and I represent my state in several competitions. At my training

pool we have a diving pool for the divers. So as a kid I was always fascinated about how
professional divers were able to dive without getting injured. I always wonder how they
jumped from a certain height and land in the water perfectly. This why I decided on this
research question, as I have been exposed this kind of question and thought since I was
eleven years old.

1.4 Background Information

Terminal velocity

Terminal velocity is a constant speed a falling object attained when the resistance through the
medium that which it is falling through, prevents further acceleration. Terminal velocity is
achieved when the speed of an object in no longer increasing or decreasing. When the object
is released from different heights; there are many forces acting on the object while it is
falling.

https://equatio.texthelp.com/
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Vt = Ö(2 ´ m ´ g / r ´ A ´ Cd)

Vt = Terminal velocity
m = Mass of the falling object
g = Acceleration due to gravity
r = Density of the fluid through which the object is falling
A = Area of the object
Cd = Drag coefficient

Figure 1

The ‘g’ in the formula is constant with a value of 9.8 m/s2. The density of the fluid the object
passes through in this experiment is air. The density of air varies at different heights.

The drag coefficient can be calculated by the constant drag coefficients given to each kind of
shape. For example: For a sphere

Drag coefficient (Cd) = 0.4

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4q
eCcvq2_io&psig=AOvVaw0c4XeAZLr3Gc4rY1_1bcWh&ust=1648918552100000&source=images
&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCJjUxbeq8_YCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAL.
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The area of the object and be calculated based on the shape of the object. Example: the object
has shape of a cube,

Area (A)= 6a2

‘a’ being the length of the edge.

The force of air resistance is directly proportional to the falling object’s speed. The air
resistance force keeps increasing from the time it is dropped till the object has reached its
terminal velocity. In general, the higher the value of terminal velocity, the faster an object
will reach it. This is because a higher terminal velocity means that the medium will offer
more resistance to the object's motion, which will cause the object to decelerate faster until it
reaches a constant speed.

As an object falls through a fluid, it experiences two main forces: gravity, which pulls the
object downwards, and drag, which acts in the opposite direction to the motion of the object
and opposes its fall. Initially, the drag force is small and the object accelerates due to the
force of gravity. However, as the object gains speed, the drag force increases, eventually
becoming equal in magnitude to the force of gravity. At this point, the object stops
accelerating and continues to fall at a constant speed, known as the terminal velocity.

Terminal velocity is an important concept in a variety of fields, including physics,

engineering, and skydiving. It is used to calculate the maximum speed that an object can
reach in free fall, and to design parachutes and other devices that can slow the fall of objects
or people. Skydivers use their knowledge of terminal velocity to control their speed and
direction of descent during a jump.

In my experiment I will be dropping three kinds of bags with different surface object from
different heights. The shape of the object will remain the same from every height.

https://www.quora.com/Is-terminal-velocity-dependent-on-height

https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-the-relationship-between-the-height-an-object-falls-
and-its-velocity.html
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2 Exploration
2.1 Independent variable

The independent variable in my experiment is the height from which the bag is dropped. This
is the variable which is being controlled to manipulate the results.

2.2 Dependent variable

The dependent variable in this experiment is the terminal velocity as we are calculating that
as the results. There are other dependent variables too like: terminal velocity and time taken.

2.3 Controlled variable

The mass of the bags is kept constant throughout the experiment, which is the control
variable in the trail. Example: drag coefficient, projected area, density of the fluid the object
falls through, and mass.

2.4 Procedure

1. The bags are dropped from the distances- 3.75 meters, 6.75 meters, and 8.75 meters.
2. A video of all the dropping is taken from a straight angle and then put into logger pro
software to create the velocity-time graph.
3. The bags are stuffed with different kinds of balls to make sure the mass of all the bags
remain same (0.46 kgs)
4. The measure scale is put in the frame to show the logger pro how long is 1 meter.
5. The dropping is timed to ensure the certainty of the logger pro software.

https://www.quora.com/Is-terminal-velocity-dependent-on-height

https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-the-relationship-between-the-height-an-object-falls-
and-its-velocity.html
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2.5 Apparatus
• Stopwatch
• Logger pro software
• Scale in centimeter
• Professional Swimming bag, laptop bag, football bag
Table 1

Types of bags Picture

Swimming bag

Laptop bag

Football bag
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2.6 Experiment

The table below shows the drop of the laptop bag from 8.75 m and shows the terminal velocity
being achieved. This data points only show when terminal velocity is achieved, the whole table
of the data points are in the appendix. The whole analysis and data collection is done using
logger pro, with it help I got a table with the coordinates and plotted the graph on excel. In this
table we can notice that

Table 2

Time (s) Velocity (m/s)

3.01 -6.31

3.04 -6.55

3.08 -7.08

3.11 -8.44

3.14 -8.65

3.18 -8.65

3.21 -8.65
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Laptop bag: mass (1.75 kgs)

Table 3
Height Time (s) Y-velocity (m/s)
8.75 m 3.01 -6.31
3.04 -6.55
3.08 -7.08
3.11 -8.44
3.14 -8.65
3.18 -8.65
3.21 -8.65

6.75 m 1.54 0
1.57 0
1.61 0
1.64 -0.03
1.68 -0.14
1.71 -0.49
1.74 -0.76

3.75 m 1.58 0
1.59 0
1.59 -0.02
1.60 -0.13
1.61 -0.35
1.62 -0.56
1.65 -0.61

This table shows the readings for the laptop bag, thrown from three different heights. As the
terminal velocity was only achieved by the laptop bag and no other bag.

Calculating uncertainty of the data points of the laptop bag:

Calculated the uncertainty by taking the average of two trials from each height the bags were
thrown from. Using the trials, the average time and average y-velocity was calculated. Using
the average time and y-velocity in seconds and meter per second respectively.
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Laptop bag from 8.75 m

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
-1

-2

-3
Y-Velocity(m/s)

-4

-5

-6

-7

-8

-9

-10
Time(s)

Figure 2

In this graph we can see that when the laptop bag is dropped from 8.75m and the terminal
velocity is achieved when velocity is (–) 8.6 m/s. The laptop bag had a greater surface area
than the other bags. Which is why terminal velocity is achieved as the surface area is greater
so the drag force acting against the gravity is greater than before, so the bag will achieve
terminal velocity before which lowers the terminal velocity value.

Laptop bag from 6.75 m

2

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
-2

-4
Y-Velocity()m/s

-6

-8

-10

-12

-14

-16

-18
Time(s)
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Figure 3
As we can this figure 3 shows when the laptop bag is dropped from a lower height the
terminal velocity is not achieved as there is not enough distance from the ground for the bag
to reach terminal velocity. The height from which the object is dropped is a factor hence
shown by this experimental setup and the results. In the start the points remain at 0 as the bag
is stationary that time.

Terminal velocity achieved or not achieved

Table 4
3.75m 6.75m 8.75m Terminal
velocity
Laptop bag Not achieved Not achieved Achieved 8.65 m/s
Swimming bag Not achieved Not achieved Not achieved -
Football bag Not achieved Not achieved Not achieved -

Further scope:

The experiment can be conducted with a scope of more height than 8.75 m which will
achieve terminal velocity, as at 8.75 the laptop bag has achieved terminal velocity. When
dropped from greater heights, we can conclude with guarantee that the height is directly
related to terminal velocity. Through this experiment we can still conclude by saying terminal
velocity is related to height. After a certain height, as we keep increasing height, terminal
velocity will always be achieved, only the value will vary. But below a certain height
terminal velocity may not be achieved. Which is what this experiment shows. This
experiment could be performed with difference in masses of the objects as well.

Limitation:
• A greater height could not be used during the experiment.
• The experiment could be done more manually instead of using logger pro software to
calculate the velocity and time taken.
• The bags could be dropped in the water but the from the pool was taken out due to
safety issues.
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3 Evaluation
3.1 Analysis

The results show that when the bag was dropped from 8.75 meters it had achieved terminal
velocity, but when the height from which the bag was dropped from was lowered then the
terminal velocity was not achieved. The greater the height more chances of achieving
terminal velocity. This is only applicable for this experiment as the heights used many not be
enough for the object to achieve terminal velocity. The higher the height the air density will
decrease, which will affect the terminal velocity. If there is sufficient height for the bag to
achieve terminal velocity the additional height on that will not affect the terminal velocity.

Other factors that can affect the terminal velocity are air density depending on height it is
thrown from, the mass of the object. The greater the mass, later the terminal velocity is
achieved. As the density gets bigger the terminal velocity becomes smaller. As the area of the
object will get bigger. And terminal velocity is achieved when the drag force, which is the air
resistance, and the acceleration due to gravity are equal- which is achieved with the
swimming bag at 8.75m, laptop bag at 8.75m, but not with the other trials.

At first the idea was to drop three different balls from each height, but the terminal velocity
was not being achieved with the basketball, football, and cricket ball. Later, switched to a
swimming bag, laptop bag, and football bag with balls stuffed to make sure all of them were
of the same mass. The trend seen in the trial 1 is that the velocity starts becoming constant
and the graph becomes flatter at 3.25 seconds. The values in the table of trial 1 also are
similar which shows us that terminal velocity is achieved. As seen in trial 3 we can see that
the blue curve which is the y-velocity does not bend to become a flat line which is when
terminal velocity is achieved. But in the case of trial 3 it is not achieved, which tells us that
height is a determinant of terminal velocity, but only to a certain extent as after a certain
height it would not affect the terminal velocity of the bag, in this experiment, we can safely
say the height is around 8.75m. If the height is increased after that then it would not make a
difference.
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The strength of the gravitational field of the planet or celestial body on which the object is
falling will affect its terminal velocity. Objects falling on a planet with a stronger
gravitational field will reach a higher terminal velocity than those falling on a planet with a
weaker gravitational field.

This experiment would not have worked with the sports balls as those balls had a very less
surface area compared to the swimming bag. Originally the idea was to drop them in the
water from the diving boards. But due to security reasons the government had removed the
water from the pool, so the experiment was conducted from the diving board but dropped on
the other side of the water.

3.2 Conclusion

These factors helped me during the experiment-

Strengths:

• I had appropriate levels to drop the object from, which helped me keep track of the
height from which the bag is dropped
• The usage of logger pro had made the experiment easy-going and made the
calculation of the terminal velocity more accurate
• I found a perfect object which would achieve terminal velocity with the provided
height

Area of improvement:

• Motion sensor could be used for more accurate readings and graphs
• Taking the reading separate could have given a more accurate result
• Repeating the experiment will give more accurate data

Overall, the factors affecting terminal velocity are complex and interdependent, and a
detailed analysis of each of these factors is required to accurately determine the terminal
velocity of an object in a given situation.
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According to the results of my experiment, the height from which the object is dropped from
is affecting the terminal velocity, but only to a certain limit as after a certain height when the
terminal velocity is achieved then the height from where it is dropped will not matter. In this
experiment only the height is the main factor to determine the terminal velocity.

In conclusion, terminal velocity is the constant maximum velocity that an object in free fall
can reach when the force of gravity is balanced by the opposing force of air resistance. It is
determined by a combination of factors, including the mass, size, shape, and surface area of
the object, as well as the density and viscosity of the medium, the acceleration due to gravity,
and the altitude of the fall. The concept of terminal velocity is important in a variety of fields,
including engineering, physics, and aviation, as it can be used to calculate the speed of falling
objects and design systems that safely control their descent. Understanding the factors that
influence terminal velocity is key to predicting the behaviour of objects in free fall and
designing systems that optimize their motion.
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4 Bibliography
1. "Is Terminal Velocity Dependent on Height?" Quora, Quora, 26 June 2019,
https://www.quora.com/Is-terminal-velocity-dependent-on-height. Access date-
23/10/2021
2. "What is the Relationship Between the Height an Object Falls and Its Velocity?"
Study.com, Study.com, n.d., https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-the-
relationship-between-the-height-an-object-falls-and-its-velocity.html. Access date-
3/11/2021
3. "Terminal Velocity." YouTube, uploaded by Tyler DeWitt, 28 Aug. 2013,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qeCcvq2_io. Access date- 26/11/2021
4. EquatIO, texthelp, n.d., https://equatio.texthelp.com/cms-25006. Access date-
12/1/2022
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