Net Force on Ball at Terminal Velocity – Rankers Physics
Topic: Solid and Fluids
Subtopic: Fluid Dynamics

Net Force on Ball at Terminal Velocity

A small ball of mass \(m\) and density \(rho\) is dropped in a viscous liquid of density \(\rho_0\). After sometime, the ball falls with constant velocity. The net force acting on the ball after it attains constant velocity, will be:
\(mg\left(\frac{\rho_0}{\rho}-1\right)\)
\(mg(\rho - \rho_0)\)
\(mg\left(1-\frac{\rho}{\rho_0}\right)\)
Zero

Solution:

When a body falls with constant velocity (terminal velocity), its acceleration is zero. Thus, by Newton's second law, the net force on it is zero.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *