Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
AIR RESISTANCE AND TERMINAL VELOCITY
19 practice questions
Practice questions
11–19 of 19
Question 11
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 12
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 13
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 14
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 15
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 16
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.
Question 17
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 18
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 19
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.