tangential velocity

physics
Also known as: rotational velocity

Learn about this topic in these articles:

Assorted References

calculation of

    • luminosity function
    • orbits
      • vector mathematics
        In mechanics: Circular orbits

        …velocity of the planet is tangent to the orbit. In the absence of gravity, the planet would obey the law of inertia (Newton’s first law) and fly off in a straight line in the direction of the velocity at constant speed. The force of gravity serves to overcome the inertial…

        Read More
    • stellar motion
    Related Topics:
    velocity

    terminal velocity, steady speed achieved by an object freely falling through a gas or liquid. A typical terminal velocity for a parachutist who delays opening the chute is about 150 miles (240 kilometres) per hour. Raindrops fall at a much lower terminal velocity, and a mist of tiny oil droplets settles at an exceedingly small terminal velocity. An object dropped from rest will increase its speed until it reaches terminal velocity; an object forced to move faster than its terminal velocity will, upon release, slow down to this constant velocity.

    Terminal velocity is achieved, therefore, when the speed of a moving object is no longer increasing or decreasing; the object’s acceleration (or deceleration) is zero. The force of air resistance is approximately proportional to the speed of the falling object, so that air resistance increases for an object that is accelerating, having been dropped from rest until terminal velocity is reached. At terminal velocity, air resistance equals in magnitude the weight of the falling object. Because the two are oppositely directed forces, the total force on the object is zero, and the speed of the object has become constant.

    The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.