The Limiting Velocity in Falling from a Great Height

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to give a simple treatment of the problem of calculating the final or limiting velocity of an object falling in vertical motion under gravity in a resisting medium. The equations of motion are easily set up and integrated when the density of the medium is constant and the resistance varies as the square of the velocity. The results show that the fundamental characteristics of the vertical motion under gravity in a resisting medium is the approach to a terminal or limiting velocity, whether the initial downward velocity is less or greater than the limiting velocity. This method can be used to calculate the terminal velocity of a bomb trajectory.