If the terminal velocity of a human is c120mph, how did Alan Eustace fall at a reported 822mph?

208 viewsOtherPhysics

I was just scrolling through another sub and the Felix Baumgartner jump came up, along with someone mentioning that the record was broken by Alan Eustace in 2014.

In the Wiki for this, it mentions he was falling at 822mph, however I thought a human’s terminal velocity was 120mph (more if say, a skydiver was diving head first)… So how does this work? Is it as a result of the reduced air resistance and force of gravity increased therefore increasing the terminal velocity?

Sorry, by no means a physicist!

In: Physics

8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Terminal Velocity varies with the surrounding air density. Denser air = slower T.V., and vice versa.

And air gets less dense as you go from the Earth up towards space.

Meaning that at great heights within the atmosphere, the T.V. will be much faster.

Gravity changes/variables in this situation are negligible.

You are viewing 1 out of 8 answers, click here to view all answers.