This comparison covers Comparing Terminal Velocities within Terminal Velocity for GCSE Physics. Revise Terminal Velocity in Extra Topics for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 11 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 5 of 13 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 5 of 13
Practice
13 questions
Recall
11 flashcards
💪 Comparing Terminal Velocities
Figure 3: Surface area and shape both affect the terminal velocity reached
| Object | Approximate terminal velocity | Key reason |
|---|---|---|
| Skydiver (no parachute) | ~55 m/s (120 mph) | Relatively streamlined body position |
| Skydiver (parachute open) | ~5 m/s (11 mph) | Huge surface area of canopy |
| Feather | ~0.5 m/s | Very light — tiny weight to overcome drag |
| Steel ball bearing | Very high (in air) | Heavy, dense, small surface area |