A feather and a steel ball are dropped simultaneously from a tall building. Which will reach terminal velocity first?

Source: JAMB · 2024

A feather and a steel ball are dropped simultaneously from a tall building. Which will reach terminal velocity first?

  1. The feather ✓
  2. The steel ball
  3. They will reach it simultaneously
  4. It depends on the height of the building
Explanation

Terminal velocity is reached when air resistance equals the weight of the falling body.

A feather has a very small weight but a large surface area. Air resistance quickly grows to match its weight, so it reaches terminal velocity almost at once.

A steel ball is heavy for its size. Its air resistance takes much longer to match its weight, so its terminal velocity comes later and is far higher.

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