calculate_terminal_velocity
Calculate terminal velocity by balancing drag and weight forces for objects falling through fluids. Input mass, area, fluid density, and drag coefficient to determine maximum falling speed.
Instructions
Calculate terminal velocity when drag equals weight.
At terminal velocity, forces balance:
F_drag = F_weight
v_terminal = √(2mg / ρC_dA)
Args:
mass: Object mass in kg
cross_sectional_area: Area perpendicular to fall direction in m²
fluid_density: Fluid density in kg/m³ (air=1.225, water=1000)
drag_coefficient: Drag coefficient (sphere=0.47, skydiver=1.0)
gravity: Gravitational acceleration in m/s² (default 9.81)
Returns:
Terminal velocity, time to 95%, and drag force at terminal
Example - Skydiver terminal velocity:
result = await calculate_terminal_velocity(
mass=70, # kg
cross_sectional_area=0.7, # m² (belly-down position)
fluid_density=1.225, # air
drag_coefficient=1.0, # human
)
# v_terminal ≈ 54 m/s (120 mph)Input Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| mass | Yes | ||
| cross_sectional_area | Yes | ||
| fluid_density | Yes | ||
| drag_coefficient | No | ||
| gravity | No |