Physics SL
Physics SL
5
Chapters
329
Notes
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme D - Fields
Theme D - Fields
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
IB Resources
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Physics SL
Physics SL

Theme A - Space, Time & Motion

Understanding Air Resistance's Impact on Vertical Motion

Word Count Emoji
667 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Certainly! Below are the study notes based on the text provided, designed to be accessible and engaging for a 16-year-old student studying physics in the IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) framework.

Introduction to air resistance

  • Real-World Example: Imagine dropping a feather and a coin from the same height. The feather flutters down slowly, while the coin seems to plummet. This difference is due to air resistance!
  • What Is Air Resistance? It's a force that opposes the motion of an object through air. The faster the object, the more air resistance it faces.

Terminal speed

  • What's This? When an object falls, it gains speed, and thus air resistance increases. Terminal speed is the point where air resistance equals the gravitational pull, and the object doesn't accelerate anymore.
  • Real-World Example: Think of a skydiver! At first, they accelerate downwards, but eventually, they reach a constant speed called terminal speed where they're no longer accelerating.

The effects of air resistance - comparing graphs

  • Without Air Resistance (Figure 23(a))
  • Acceleration: Constant at −9.8 m/s² (the acceleration due to gravity).
  • Speed: Proportional to time (imagine a straight line on the graph).
  • Distance Fallen: Curved like a parabola, as it's proportional to the square of the time elapsed.
  • With Air Resistance (Figure 23(b))
  • Acceleration: Starts at −9.8 \(\frac{m}{s²}\) but falls to zero as drag increases.
  • Speed: Initially the same as no drag, then decreases and becomes constant at terminal speed.
  • Distance Fallen: No longer a parabola, becomes straighter over time, and less distance is traveled when drag acts.

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IB Resources
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Physics SL
Physics SL

Theme A - Space, Time & Motion

Understanding Air Resistance's Impact on Vertical Motion

Word Count Emoji
667 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Certainly! Below are the study notes based on the text provided, designed to be accessible and engaging for a 16-year-old student studying physics in the IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) framework.

Introduction to air resistance

  • Real-World Example: Imagine dropping a feather and a coin from the same height. The feather flutters down slowly, while the coin seems to plummet. This difference is due to air resistance!
  • What Is Air Resistance? It's a force that opposes the motion of an object through air. The faster the object, the more air resistance it faces.

Terminal speed

  • What's This? When an object falls, it gains speed, and thus air resistance increases. Terminal speed is the point where air resistance equals the gravitational pull, and the object doesn't accelerate anymore.
  • Real-World Example: Think of a skydiver! At first, they accelerate downwards, but eventually, they reach a constant speed called terminal speed where they're no longer accelerating.

The effects of air resistance - comparing graphs

  • Without Air Resistance (Figure 23(a))
  • Acceleration: Constant at −9.8 m/s² (the acceleration due to gravity).
  • Speed: Proportional to time (imagine a straight line on the graph).
  • Distance Fallen: Curved like a parabola, as it's proportional to the square of the time elapsed.
  • With Air Resistance (Figure 23(b))
  • Acceleration: Starts at −9.8 \(\frac{m}{s²}\) but falls to zero as drag increases.
  • Speed: Initially the same as no drag, then decreases and becomes constant at terminal speed.
  • Distance Fallen: No longer a parabola, becomes straighter over time, and less distance is traveled when drag acts.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Physics SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟