Calculate the constant speed reached by a falling object when the drag force equals its weight.
Object & Environment Details
kg
m²
kg/m³
Calculation Results
Enter object parameters
About this calculator
Quick Reference
v_tTerminal Velocity
mMass of Object
gGravity (9.81 m/s²)
ρFluid Density
AProjected Area
C_dDrag Coefficient
Overview
Terminal velocity is the maximum constant velocity attainable by an object as it falls through a fluid. It occurs when the sum of the drag force and buoyancy equals the downward force of gravity acting on the object.
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Pro Tips
For a human skydiver, the drag coefficient (Cd) is approximately 1.0 to 1.4.
Projected area for a human in belly-to-earth position is roughly 0.7 m².
Air density at sea level is about 1.225 kg/m³.
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Fun Facts
"A peregrine falcon can reach terminal velocities over 200 mph (320 km/h) during its hunting dive."
"Terminal velocity for a typical skydiver is about 120 mph (193 km/h)."
"Raindrops have a terminal velocity of about 20 mph (32 km/h)."
