How fast does it fall?

[beezyshaw 0]

Alright, all you brainy peeps out there. I'm trying to get the answer to this question and need help. I was asked recently about terminal velocity of different objects. Specifically, I am trying to find what terminal velocity of a bowling ball would be. Of course, density of the air is a big factor, but let's say at normal skydiving altitudes for this question. And of course the weight of the ball is also important, so let's say a 16 lb. ball.

[Remster 30]

Have fun!

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/airfri2.html

Remster

[PhillyKev 0]

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/termv.html

[beezyshaw 0]

Thanks for the links to the sites, guys, but I can't make heads or tails out of those formulas! Anybody understand this stuff enough to calculate it?

[Granimal 0]

Quote

Have fun!

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/airfri2.html

Wow a 75 kg skydiver falls at 134 mph according to the site. I quess that he/she must only be about 3 feet tall.

[chopchop 0]

I think it means a bowling ball will fall really freakin fast.. since there is very little drag..

could be wrong..

have you ever seen a bowling ball in drag? Oops.. er.. sorry.. I guess that's off-topic.. it would be a 3-holer though.. like my favorite kind of women..

chopchop
gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking..

Lotsa Pictures

[flyhi 24]

I think BlueSBDeath had some friends who did a campfire-into-a-headdown jump around one of these. Might try to PM him and ask if anyone had any instrumentation on. Theory is nice, but an actual data point is worth, I don't know, I guess about $18.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[LouDiamond 1]

You could just do it Alabama style and toss a 16lb ball out and chase it or better yet, jump holding it and then release it while in freefall and see what happens

There is a specific formula to do this but it escapes me at the moment and I'm sure your just looking for an answer and not a lesson on how to count your fingers and toes

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[beezyshaw 0]

Quote

...I think it means a bowling ball will fall really freakin fast...

Yep, that's what I said too, but I'm being asked HOW FAST is really freakin' fast?

[Rebecca 0]

Quote

Quote

Have fun!

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/airfri2.html

Wow a 75 kg skydiver falls at 134 mph according to the site. I quess that he/she must only be about 3 feet tall.

Anvil?

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[mnealtx 0]

I hit 138 on my AFF4 (I think - I'll have to double-check my Neptune to be sure). I know that I had several jumps at 130+ at 9k.

Is that exceedingly fast, belly flying? I know one of my instructors said I would be able to have fun with the freeflyers...

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[beezyshaw 0]

C'mon, Scott. You look like a pretty smart guy, so give me a number! Yea, give me a number, and while I'm workin' on the number, tell me how fast a bowling ball goes in freefall!

[quade 4]

You didn't give HIM all the numbers required to give you an exact number.

If nothing else, at what altitude above mean sea level? We could assume all other numbers are "standard".

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[beezyshaw 0]

Quote

...at what altitude above mean sea level?

Let's say 10,000 MSL, which would be about the altitude it would reach terminal if exiting at normal jump altitudes.

[BlueSBDeath 2]

Hey man, I have photo's of the jump, however I was not on the load (my skills were lacking). I do recall the speed was over 170 mph. Most of the jumpers were in shorts and t-shirts for the jump. I have posted the pictures on here somewhere

Arvel

BSBD...........Its all about Respect,

USPA#-7062, FB-2197, Outlaw 499

[quade 4]

Crap . . . there's one other variable I hadn't accounted for.

What's the size of the bowling ball?

The "rules" say it can't be more than 27 inches in circumference, but I have no idea if that then becomes the "standard" size or the size of the one you'd be in theory dropping. I'll use that for now.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[beezyshaw 0]

Just thought I'd bump the thread so somebody out there will help me on this!

[mardigrasbob 0]

246.875 MpH







-----------

[beezyshaw 0]

Quote

246.875 MpH

Does anybody second that?

[quade 4]

Quote

246.875 MpH

I had to make some assumptions, but here's what I came up with.

V = sqrt ( (2 * W) / (Cd * r * A) )

W = 16

Cd = 0.5 (a guess based on "standard" sphere)

r = 0.0017581 (based on standard atmosphere at 10,000 MSL)

a = 0.4028 (for maximum sized bowling ball; 27 inch circumference)

So the number I'm ending up with for a 16 lb bowling ball is 300.6 mph.

For a 10 lb ball it drops to 237.65

For an 8 lb ball; 212.56

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[chopchop 0]

Quote

So the number I'm ending up with for a 16 lb bowling ball is 300.6 mph.

See, beezy.. really freakin' fast.. faster than amazon..

chopchop
gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking..

Lotsa Pictures

[moth 0]

Quote

Quote

***

i dont know about all that mumbo jumbo but i do know if you was standing on the ground and it hit you on the head at that speed you would automatically say OUCH

• Quote

[LouDiamond 1]

Well I see someone has actually studied this and the number given is 114 ft/sec . Math found here

and another break down with the math says 80meters in 4sec but that is being dropped from the edge of the earth and at rest to accelaration.HERE

and NASA agrees with the previous scenario here



So your answer Beezy is 9.8m/s you figure the rest out

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[quade 4]

114 feet per second is 77.72566113 miles per hour.

I dunno, but that number seems just a little low.

(and 9.8 meters per second is 21.9226 mph which is obviously wrong for the terminal velocity of a 16 pound bowling ball.)

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[beezyshaw 0]

So, 300 mph! Thinking about the density of a bowling ball, my hunch is that's about right. Please, don't anybody get any ideas and try to skydive with one of these (unless you're way,way out in the middle of the desert!! Thanks for working on this for me, everybody.