Terminal Velocity Calculator
Enter the object’s mass, drag coefficient, cross-sectional area, and air density to estimate its terminal velocity.
Terminal Velocity Calculator
Estimate the terminal velocity of a falling object based on mass, drag, and area.
Terminal velocity is the constant speed a falling object eventually reaches when the upward force of air resistance equals the downward force of gravity, so it stops accelerating.
Example
- With the default values shown above, this calculator returns: Terminal Velocity (m/s) ≈ 42.78; Terminal Velocity (km/h) ≈ 154.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the drag coefficient?
The drag coefficient is a dimensionless number describing how streamlined an object is — a skydiver in a belly-to-earth position has a drag coefficient around 1.0, while a more streamlined, head-down position has a lower value.
Why does a heavier object reach a higher terminal velocity?
A heavier object experiences a stronger gravitational pull for the same air resistance, so it must fall faster before drag force builds up enough to balance gravity.