NEET Physics: terminal velocity Practice Questions
14 free multiple-choice questions on terminal velocity (Properties of Solids and Liquids) for NEET Physics, each with the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Attempt a question, then reveal the solution to check your reasoning.
Practice thousands more NEET questions in the app →Q1. Terminal velocity is typically a concept applied when the object is in:
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Correct answer: D — A viscous fluid or air
Terminal velocity is defined in the context of motion through a resistive medium, typically a viscous fluid or air, where drag forces exist.
Q2. For a sphere falling through a viscous medium, which physical property is most important in calculating the terminal velocity?
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Correct answer: D — The sphere's density
Terminal velocity calculation relies heavily on the mass (density) of the object and the drag coefficient of the surrounding medium.
Q3. An object falls through the air. What is the velocity of the object when it reaches terminal velocity?
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Correct answer: A — A constant velocity (Terminal Velocity)
Terminal velocity is the constant, maximum speed attained when the object stops accelerating and its velocity remains constant.
Q4. If the air resistance on an object moving through a fluid is directly proportional to the speed of the object, then the terminal velocity will be:
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Correct answer: C — Inversely proportional to the speed
If drag force is proportional to velocity (F_d ∝ v), then for terminal velocity (Fₙₑₜ=0), the velocity must be non-zero. The relationship leads to vₜ ∝ √(F_g / k), where k is the drag constant.
Q5. For an object falling through a fluid, which characteristic primarily determines the magnitude of the terminal velocity achieved?
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Correct answer: C — The object's shape and cross-sectional area
Terminal velocity depends on the balance between gravity and drag. Drag depends on the shape (which determines the cross-sectional area) and the velocity, making the shape and area critical factors.
Q6. Which of the following factors primarily determines the terminal velocity of a freely falling object in a viscous fluid?
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Correct answer: B — The density of the fluid and the object's shape
Terminal velocity depends on the balance between gravitational force and the drag force, which is determined by the density of the fluid and the object's geometry.
Q7. Terminal velocity of a falling object is reached when the net force acting on the object becomes:
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Correct answer: D — Zero
Terminal velocity is the constant velocity attained when the net force is zero. This occurs when the downward force (gravity) is exactly balanced by the upward resisting forces (drag and buoyancy).
Q8. When an object falls through a viscous fluid, the drag force acting on it is proportional to which of the following physical quantities?
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Correct answer: A — Velocity of the object
In fluid dynamics, the drag force (and thus the net force) experienced by an object moving through a fluid is directly proportional to the velocity of the object.
Q9. An object falls through the air. If the object maintains a constant speed after some time, it has reached its terminal velocity. What is the primary physical implication of reaching terminal velocity?
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Correct answer: B — The net force acting on the object is zero
Terminal velocity is the speed attained when the net force is zero, meaning the object is moving at a constant velocity (zero acceleration).
Q10. Which factor primarily determines the terminal velocity of an object falling through a viscous fluid?
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Correct answer: D — The viscosity of the fluid and the object's shape
Terminal velocity depends critically on the balance between gravitational force and the viscous drag force, which is directly influenced by the fluid's viscosity and the object's geometry.
Q11. Terminal velocity is reached when the net force acting on an object is:
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Correct answer: C — Gravity equals Air Resistance
Terminal velocity is the constant velocity achieved when the downward force of gravity is exactly balanced by the upward force of air resistance (drag force).
Q12. What condition must be satisfied for an object to reach its terminal velocity?
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Correct answer: C — When the upward viscous force equals the gravitational force
Terminal velocity is the constant velocity achieved when the net force acting on the object is zero, meaning the downward force (gravity) balances the upward resistive force (drag).
Q13. An object falls through a highly viscous fluid. As the object accelerates, its rate of acceleration eventually becomes zero, and its velocity becomes constant. This constant velocity is known as:
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Correct answer: D — Terminal velocity
Terminal velocity is the constant velocity achieved by an object falling through a fluid when the net force acting on it is zero. This occurs when the drag force exerted by the fluid balances the gravitational force acting on the object.
Q14. In the absence of air resistance, an object falling freely will eventually reach a constant speed. This state is known as:
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Correct answer: D — Terminal velocity
When air resistance (drag) is ignored, the object accelerates continuously due to gravity. Terminal velocity is specifically the constant speed reached when drag balances gravity in a fluid environment.
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