Terminal Velocity Calculator
Calculate terminal velocity using vt = √(2mg/(ρACd)). Enter mass, drag coefficient, and cross-sectional area.
How to Use the Terminal Velocity Calculator
- Enter the object's mass in kilograms.
- Enter the drag coefficient (e.g. 0.47 for a sphere).
- Enter the cross-sectional area in m².
Quick Reference
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Skydiver (belly-down) | ~55 m/s (200 km/h) |
| Skydiver (head-down) | ~90 m/s (320 km/h) |
| Baseball | ~42 m/s |
| Golf ball | ~32 m/s |
| Raindrop (2 mm) | ~6.5 m/s |
Use Cases
- •Parachute design and skydiving analysis.
- •Estimating fall speed of hail or rain drops.
- •Aerospace engineering terminal descent calculations.
Formula
vt = √(2mg / (ρ·A·Cd)), where m is mass (kg), g ≈ 9.807 m/s², ρ = 1.225 kg/m³ (sea-level air), A is area (m²), Cd is drag coefficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
What air density is used?
The calculator uses ρ = 1.225 kg/m³, the standard sea-level air density at 15 °C.
What is a drag coefficient?
Cd is a dimensionless number representing an object's air resistance. A sphere has Cd ≈ 0.47, a flat plate ≈ 1.28.
Is this calculator free?
Yes, all OhMyCalc calculators are completely free.