1.21 Falling objects and terminal velocity
Falling objects are affected by weight and drag, and terminal velocity occurs when these opposing forces become balanced during motion.
- Syllabus
- 2024
- Objective
- 1.21
- Level
- —
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing14%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2024
Most common paperPaper1PR
Typical marks3–5
Common command terms
- Draw
- Explain
- Identify
- Justify
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Saying only that the object slows down without explaining the change in forces.
Recent exam appearances
May 2024Paper1PR [null] · TZ09(c)(ii)[ 5 ]1.21 Falling objects and terminal velocity
June 2022Paper1PR [null] · TZ012(b)(i)[ 3 ]1.21 Falling objects and terminal velocity
Jan 2020Paper1PR [null] · TZ05(b)[ 5 ]1.21 Falling objects and terminal velocity
June 2019Paper1PR [null] · TZ08(b)[ 4 ]1.21 Falling objects and terminal velocity
June 2019Paper1P [null] · TZ08(a)(ii)[ 4 ]1.21 Falling objects and terminal velocity
Practice this objective
Coverage 2019–2024 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
1.21 Falling objects and terminal velocity
Describe the forces acting on falling objects (and explain why falling objects reach a terminal velocity)
Concept essentials
- Weight acts downward on a falling object, while drag or air resistance acts upward.
- A non-zero resultant force causes acceleration in the direction of the resultant force.
- Drag increases as a falling object moves faster through air.
- Terminal velocity is constant speed reached when drag equals weight.
- Opening a parachute can create a large upward resultant force before a lower terminal velocity is reached.