Free Terminal Velocity MCQs with Answers
19 Terminal Velocity MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Terminal velocity is the constant speed reached when gravitational force is balanced by fluid resistance. The topic covers drag, buoyant force, the conditions for zero acceleration, and how viscosity, object size, shape and density affect the limiting speed, with a distinction between free fall before and after terminal velocity.
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19 questions
- A. the drag force becomes zero
- B. the upward drag and upthrust together balance the weight, so the net force is zero
- C. the body stops moving completely
- D. gravity stops acting on the body
Explanation: Drag increases with speed, so the body accelerates until the retarding forces grow to match its weight, after which the acceleration is…
Correct answer: the upward drag and upthrust together balance the weight, so the net force is zero- A. the radius of the sphere
- B. the square of the radius of the sphere
- C. the inverse of the radius
- D. the viscosity of the liquid
Explanation: Equating the weight less upthrust to the Stokes drag gives a terminal velocity proportional to r squared and inversely proportional to…
Correct answer: the square of the radius of the sphere- A. the same terminal velocity
- B. a lower terminal velocity
- C. a higher terminal velocity
- D. no terminal velocity
Explanation: Terminal velocity depends on the difference between the density of the sphere and that of the fluid, so a denser sphere needs a larger…
Correct answer: a higher terminal velocity- A. falls, because the larger area increases the drag at a given speed
- B. rises, because the parachute adds weight
- C. is unchanged
- D. becomes zero immediately
Explanation: Opening the canopy multiplies the effective area and therefore the drag, so the forces balance again at a much lower speed and the diver…
Correct answer: falls, because the larger area increases the drag at a given speed- A. 9.8 m/s2 upward
- B. Zero
- C. 1 m/s2
- D. 9.8 m/s2 downward
Explanation: At terminal velocity the upward drag and upthrust exactly balance the weight, so the resultant force is zero and by Newton's second law…
Correct answer: Zero- A. 4:06
- B. 4:09
- C. 2:09
- D. 4.3Trying Interactive Physics Simulation Software
Explanation: For small spherical droplets in Stokes' regime, terminal velocity is proportional to the square of radius, vt ∝ r².
Correct answer: 4:09- A. The radius of the body
- B. The diameter of the body
- C. Size of the body
- D. Square of the diameter of the body
Explanation: Stokes' law gives terminal velocity vt = 2r²(ρs − ρf)g/(9η), so with the other factors fixed, vt is proportional to r² and therefore to…
Correct answer: Square of the diameter of the body- A. 0
- B. Maximum
- C. Variable
- D. Infinite
Explanation: At terminal velocity, the upward drag force balances the body's effective downward weight, so the net force is zero and Newton's second…
Correct answer: 0- A. Uniform
- B. Maximum
- C. Uniform and maximum
- D. Neither uniform nor maximum
Explanation: Terminal velocity is reached when the upward drag force balances the downward weight, so the resultant force and acceleration become zero.
Correct answer: Uniform and maximum10. All of the following are the factors on which terminal velocity of a falling object depends EXCEPT
- A. Mass of the object.
- B. Velocity of the object.
- C. Cross-sectional area of the object.
- D. Gravitational acceleration of the object.
Explanation: The correct answer is Option B:Velocity of the object.Terminal velocity is the constant speed achieved when the force of gravity is…
Correct answer: Velocity of the object.11. All of the following are the factors of which terminal velocity of a falling object depends EXCEPT
- A. Mass of the object
- B. Velocity of the object
- C. Cross-sectional area of the object
- D. Gravitational acceleration of the object
Explanation: The correct answer is velocity of the object because terminal velocity is a specific constant speed achieved when the forces of gravity…
Correct answer: Velocity of the object- A. Twice the weight of the droplet
- B. Thrice the weight of the droplet
- C. Half of the weight of the droplet
- D. Equal to the weight of the droplet
Explanation: At terminal velocity, a falling object moves at a constant speed because the net force acting on it is zero.
Correct answer: Equal to the weight of the droplet- A. -9.8 m/s2
- B. 0 m/s2
- C. 4.9 m/s2
- D. 9.8 m/s2
Explanation: When an object moves with a terminal velocity, the net force acting on it becomes zero because the drag force equals the gravitational…
Correct answer: 0 m/s2- A. Rain drop.
- B. Cricket ball.
- C. Falling apple from a tree.
- D. Falling stone from some height.
Explanation: The correct answer is Option D:falling stone from some height.A stone is dense and compact, which means it has a high weight-to-surface…
Correct answer: Falling stone from some height.- A. vt = 4gr2ρ / 9η
- B. vt = 9ηr2ρ / 4g
- C. vt = 2gr2ρ / 9η
- D. vt = 9ηr2ρ / 2g
Explanation: Explanation:Using strokes law, 6πηrvt = mg Where, m = 4/3 πr³ρComparing both equations, we get: r² = 9ηvt /2ρg vt = 2gr²ρ / 9η
Correct answer: vt = 2gr2ρ / 9η- A. The air resistence just balances the force of gravity
- B. The force of gravity ois constant for all drops
- C. All drops fall from the same height
- D. The drops are small so force of gravity is negligible for them
Explanation: Terminal velocity, the steady speed achieved by an object freely falling through a gas or liquidLet's go into the imagination A raindrop…
Correct answer: The air resistence just balances the force of gravity- A. Zero
- B. 9.8 N
- C. 4.9N
- D. 19.6N
Explanation: The drag force experienced by an object falling with zero acceleration is equal to the weight of the object.
Correct answer: 9.8 N- A. 8 cms-1
- B. 16 cms-1
- C. 24 cms-1
- D. 32 cms-1
Explanation: Explanation is given below.Let the radius of bigger drop is R and smaller drop is r then4/3πR^3 = 8×4/3×πr^3or R=2r ....(i)Terminal…
Correct answer: 32 cms-1- A. Before hail
- B. After hail
- C. At the same time
- D. None of the above
Explanation: The correct answer is option B: 'After hail'. The rain drop, being less dense than the hail, experiences less gravitational force acting…
Correct answer: After hailTerminal Velocity MCQs: common questions
Are these Terminal Velocity MCQs free?
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There are 19 Terminal Velocity MCQs in the Physics bank, shown 20 to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.
Does every Terminal Velocity MCQ have an explanation?
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Can I take a timed Terminal Velocity test?
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