Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Class 11 · Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Terminal Velocity

Sphere in viscous fluid — accelerates until weight = buoyancy + drag at v_t.

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Key Notes

01

A sphere falling through fluid accelerates until weight = buoyancy + drag, then v = constant.

02

Terminal velocity v_t = 2r²(ρ_s − ρ_f)g / (9η).

03

Larger or denser objects have higher v_t; thicker fluids slow them down.

Formulas

Terminal velocity

From Stokes' law balance.

Important Points

Skydiver in spread-eagle: v_t ≈ 55 m/s; head-down: ~90 m/s.

Raindrops reach v_t ≈ 9 m/s (otherwise they'd be lethal!).

Terminal Velocity notes from sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs, Physics Lab). Class 11 physics revision for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT, and CUET-UG.