This exam tips covers Exam Tips for Terminal Velocity within Terminal Velocity for GCSE Physics. Revise Terminal Velocity in Extra Topics for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 11 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 12 of 13 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
💡 Exam Tips for Terminal Velocity
🎯 Common Question Types:
- Describe terminal velocity and the forces involved [2 marks]
- Sketch and annotate a v-t graph for a skydiver [3-4 marks]
- Explain the effect of opening a parachute [3 marks]
- State and explain factors affecting terminal velocity [2 marks each]
- Calculate acceleration from v-t graph gradient [2 marks]
📝 Key Command Words:
- Describe — state what happens without explaining why
- Explain — give the reason using forces and Newton's laws
- Sketch — draw a diagram, labelled but not to scale
- State — give the answer without any working or explanation
- Calculate — use numbers from the graph to find a value
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Saying "no forces act" at terminal velocity — forces are balanced, not absent
- Confusing terminal velocity with stopping — the object is still moving at constant speed
- Reading gradient of a distance-time graph as acceleration — it gives speed, not acceleration
- Forgetting to mention resultant force in explanation questions
- Drawing the v-t graph incorrectly — the approach to terminal velocity should be a curve (not straight), getting less steep over time
Practice questions for Terminal Velocity
An object reaches terminal velocity when falling through air. Which statement correctly describes the forces at terminal velocity?
Explain how a skydiver reaches terminal velocity after jumping from a plane. Include changes to forces and acceleration in your answer.
Quick recall flashcards
Why does terminal velocity occur?
As an object speeds up, drag increases. Eventually drag = weight, resultant force = 0, so acceleration stops (F = ma)
What is terminal velocity?
The constant velocity reached when drag force equals weight, so resultant force = 0 and acceleration stops