Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
AIR RESISTANCE AND TERMINAL VELOCITY
19 practice questions
Practice questions
1–9 of 9 · Normal
Question 1
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Calculate the weight of an object with a mass of 4.5 kg on the Moon, where the gravitational field strength is 1.6 N/kg.
Question 2
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →State two factors that affect the size of the air resistance acting on a moving object.
Question 3
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A stone is dropped from rest from a tall building and falls straight down through air.
(a)[2 marks]Draw and label all the forces acting on the stone just after it is released.
(b)[2 marks]Describe how the forces acting on the stone change as it falls and approaches terminal velocity.
Question 4
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A supply crate of mass 75 kg is dropped by parachute onto a remote island. The gravitational field strength is 9.8 N/kg.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the weight of the crate.
(b)[2 marks]The parachute opens and the crate reaches a terminal velocity of 5 m/s. State what this tells you about the forces acting on the crate as it descends at this speed.
Question 5
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student investigates how the surface area of paper cones affects their terminal velocity. She drops cones of identical mass but different surface areas from the same height and records their terminal velocities.
Results Cone Surface Area (cm^2) Terminal Velocity (m/s) 25 3.8 35 3.1 45 2.6 Question 6
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Explain how terminal velocity is reached by a falling object. In your answer, refer to what happens to the forces acting on the object during its fall.
Question 7
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A toy parachute is dropped from a tall building.
(a)[2 marks]Draw and label all the forces acting on the parachute immediately after it is released.
(b)[2 marks]Describe how the size of each force changes as the parachute falls and eventually reaches terminal velocity.
Question 8
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A suitcase has a mass of 12 kg. Calculate its weight on Earth. Use g = 9.8 N/kg.
Question 9
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A basketball is dropped from a tall stand. Explain, with reasons, why the basketball accelerates at first but later falls at a constant speed. Refer to the forces acting on the ball at each stage.