This key facts covers Key Facts 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 7 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 7 of 13
Practice
13 questions
Recall
11 flashcards
📋 Key Facts
- Terminal velocity occurs when drag = weight (resultant force = 0)
- At terminal velocity, acceleration = 0 — but the object is still moving
- The gradient of a v-t graph equals acceleration; zero gradient = terminal velocity
- The area under a v-t graph equals distance travelled
- Larger surface area → more drag at same speed → lower terminal velocity
- Greater weight → needs more drag to balance → higher terminal velocity
- More streamlined shape → less drag → higher terminal velocity
- Drag is approximately proportional to speed squared — doubling speed roughly quadruples drag
- Transformers can only step voltage up/down for alternating current (AC), not DC
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Terminal Velocity. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
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
13 questions on Terminal Velocity — practise free
Instant marking, adaptive difficulty, and 11 spaced repetition flashcards. Free until your GCSEs.
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