Terminal Velocity 2C30.50

PURPOSE: To show Terminal Velocity.

DESCRIPTION: A tall tube is filled with a clear viscous fluid.  The tube has a backdrop of equal spaced marks.  A metronome is released to click off equal intervals of time.  A lead ball is released to fall through the fluid in the tube.  While listening to the steady rhythm of the metronome clicks the ball is observed to pass equal marks in equal intervals of time, thus showing that the velocity is constant.  Note that the terminal velocity is achieved almost immediately upon impact with the fluid.

When an object which is falling under the influence of gravity and it is subject to some other constant force it will feel a resistance or drag force.  The object will ultimately reach the terminal velocity where the drag force equals the gravitational force. This final, constant velocity of motion is called a "terminal velocity", a terminology made popular by skydivers. For objects moving through a fluid at low speeds the terminal velocity is determined by viscous drag.
 
EQUIPMENT: Tall tube of Glycerin.  Lead ball on a string.  Metronome.

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