What IS Terminal Velocity?

[jakee 1,625]

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That there is only ONE true terminal velocity and that is in a vacuum or whatever

There is no terminal velocity in a vacuum.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[racer42 0]

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Ok, I can think of two examples that you can use to prove him wrong.

1.) by his logic, if we never reach terminal then we are constantly accelerating from exit to opening. Obviously, we know that we stop accelerating just a few seconds into the skydive.

2.) If we never reach terminal then a person in a head down position could switch to belly and not lose any velocity at all. Which again, we know to be untrue.

Tell him that and then stick out your tongue and go PFPFPFPFPFPFPFP, and maybe even get a little bit of spit on him "by accident"

Does this mean that if you gain 50 lbs and skydive more often that you'll be able to stay with us in a sit??

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[pilotdave 0]

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Ummm - wrong in several respects.

Useful post #13,003 from kallend.

And equally useful from me of course.

Anyway, back to the original poster, your brother is hopeless... give up! Tell him terminal velocity is 0.... we end every skydive at that speed.

Dave

[kallend 2,196]

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So I told him what everyone here said and he still insists that our terminal velocity is not terminal velocity at all. That there is only ONE true terminal velocity and that is in a vacuum or whatever. He's back home now though, so no more arguing.

I believe there are two physics professors who post here. I am one of them. If he wants to argue the point with me, send me his email address.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[jumpinfarmer 0]

Have you tried to prove it to him by taking him for a jump? Maybe after a couple dozen jumps he would wake up.