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I think it depends on the distance it is falling from. The longer it falls the more momentum it gains.

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The idea is called 'terminal velocity'. For a skydiver in the typical flat open position (to maximize drag) the terminal velocity is about 195 mph. Where objects can fall in vacuum, there is no termal velocity, except for the moment of impact with the body responsible for the gravitational field, at which time velocity and acceleration both 'terminate'. But on earth, the atmosphere causes drag, and at some point a falling object may accelerate enough so that atmospheric drag counteracts acceleration. Terminal velocity will be different from object to object, because of the characteristics of the object that would increase or minimize drag. In the head-down position, competition skydivers can reach speeds higher than 600 mph.

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14y ago
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15y ago

The general expression for this is "terminal velocity", when the atmospheric resistance against a falling object cancels out any acceleration that would be caused by gravity.

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14y ago

420 miles per hour

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Q: What is the maximum speed a person can reach falling from a plane?
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Continue Learning about Physics

What is the maximum terminal velocity a free falling object can reach on earth?

The Answer Is Roughly 7 Miles Per Second


Does the speed of an object in air continue to increase until it hits the ground?

It depends on how high it is when it start falling. If it is high enough, it will reach its terminal velocity and stop accelerating before it hits the ground. As an object is falling, it has to push through air below it. The faster it falls, the greater the air resistance (or drag) to the object. At some point, the amount of air resistance will be equal to the pull of gravity (its weight) and it will not be able to go any faster. We call this its terminal velocity, the maximum speed it can reach as it is falling through air. A larger or wider object will have more drag than a smaller object of the same weight and will have different maximum speeds. That is why a person falling from a plane with a parachute will stop going faster after the parachute opens and the drag increases because of the shape of the open parachute.


Will the object accelerate in free fall because the only force acting on its gravity?

A falling object will continue to accelerate when free falling, but each object has a maximum speed which it can reach (but go no faster than this speed) when free falling from great heights. True.


What causes a falling object to reach terminal velocity?

Its the air resistance that causes the free falling body to reach its terminal velocity


How do you calculate maximum velocity of a falling object?

Without air, the speed of a falling object keeps increasing, and never reaches a maximum. The only thing that causes it to reach a maximum and stop increasing is air resistance. The effects of air resistance depend on the size, shape, and composition of the object, and the calculation of the "terminal velocity" in advance is very complex.

Related questions

What is the maximum terminal velocity a free falling object can reach on earth?

The Answer Is Roughly 7 Miles Per Second


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Falling Out of Reach was created in 2007.


Does the speed of an object in air continue to increase until it hits the ground?

It depends on how high it is when it start falling. If it is high enough, it will reach its terminal velocity and stop accelerating before it hits the ground. As an object is falling, it has to push through air below it. The faster it falls, the greater the air resistance (or drag) to the object. At some point, the amount of air resistance will be equal to the pull of gravity (its weight) and it will not be able to go any faster. We call this its terminal velocity, the maximum speed it can reach as it is falling through air. A larger or wider object will have more drag than a smaller object of the same weight and will have different maximum speeds. That is why a person falling from a plane with a parachute will stop going faster after the parachute opens and the drag increases because of the shape of the open parachute.


Will the object accelerate in free fall because the only force acting on its gravity?

A falling object will continue to accelerate when free falling, but each object has a maximum speed which it can reach (but go no faster than this speed) when free falling from great heights. True.


What causes a falling object to reach terminal velocity?

Its the air resistance that causes the free falling body to reach its terminal velocity


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It is atime when a person reach the maximum point of satisfaction after consume more a certain commodity at a time.


Does the speed of sound depend on whether it is made by an airplane or person snapping their fingers?

No, but the speed of sound can be changed by the Doppler effect. Such that if the plane is coming towards you it will reach you faster then if it was traveling away from you. Same with the snapping, if a person was coming towards you it would reach you faster, if moving away would reach you slower.


During whose reign did the Marathas reach maximum expansion?

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You are in Jamaica how do you reach china what is the root to travel?

By plane or boat. Plane would be faster


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In what way is friction useful to a skydiver?

Friction (from air resistance) stops them from falling faster and faster continually - instead they reach a maximum velocity and stay at that speed until they pull their parachute. Friction prevents them from plummeting to their death.


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