if terminal velocity is the fastest an item can free fall, then if you were to shoot an item downwards, faster then it’s terminal velocity, would it slow down, or maintain that same speed? If it does slow down, what force is slowing it? Would it work the same way in a vacuum?

Question

if terminal velocity is the fastest an item can free fall, then if you were to shoot an item downwards, faster then it’s terminal velocity, would it slow down, or maintain that same speed? If it does slow down, what force is slowing it? Would it work the same way in a vacuum?

In: Physics

Answer 1

For the 2nd question, no, it would not work the same because there is no terminal velocity in a vacuum. Terminal velocity only makes sense when there’s an atmosphere to provide a counteracting drag force.