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What energy changes take place when a ball that is falling through the air reaches its terminal velocity?
I know that at terminal velocity, kinetic energy remains constant. I know that potential energy decreases because the height changes and air friction against the ball causing heat but I know that is minimal. I really need to know also, where does all that extra potential energy go because before terminal velocity, I would have said kinetic energy but because this is constant, where does the bulk of the potential energy go. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Answer:
The kinetic energy might be constant, but you have to remember that at the point it attains its terminal velocity it is traveling at a great speed. KE is directly proportional to the square of velocity. The heat produced by air friction can not be ignored.
There could be other forms of energy transformation taking place, such as sound, light, etc. But the sum of all these different forms of energy would still be equal to the initial potential energy of the ball .
teddy boy
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