Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
AIR RESISTANCE AND TERMINAL VELOCITY
19 practice questions
Practice questions
1–3 of 3 · Hard
Question 1
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A student drops two objects of equal mass but different shapes (a smooth metal ball and a large feather) at the same time from the same height in a classroom. Assume air resistance is significant for the feather.
(a)[2 marks]State which object will reach the floor first and explain your answer.
(b)[3 marks]Describe, in terms of forces, what happens to the feather as it falls until it reaches its terminal velocity.
Question 2
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A helicopter drops a small probe of mass 0.60 kg from a height above the ground. The gravitational field strength is 9.8 N/kg. The probe quickly reaches terminal velocity as it falls through the air.
(a)[1 mark]Calculate the weight of the probe.
(b)[3 marks]At terminal velocity, what is the size of the air resistance force acting on the probe? Explain your answer.
Question 3
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →The diagram below shows the forces acting on a raindrop falling through air. The downward force is the weight of the raindrop and the upward force is air resistance.
Forces on a falling raindrop at three different moments. (a)[4 marks]Describe how the relative sizes of weight and air resistance change as the raindrop falls, and what effect this has on the motion of the raindrop. Refer to what happens at the start, as it speeds up, and at terminal velocity.
(b)[1 mark]Explain why the raindrop does not accelerate at terminal velocity.