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Re: Obscure Questions Award - Terminal velocity & Time to bottom





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Posted by Ross-O on May 22, 2007 at 19:07:29:

In Reply to: Obscure Questions Award - Terminal velocity & Time to bottom posted by I_AM on May 22, 2007 at 00:07:12:

Impossible to answer.

Terminal velocity is when the sum of forces on a body = 0

Draw a free body diagram and sum the forces equal to zero. The downward force (mass of diver * g) must equal the upward force (bouyant force + drag)

Drag is going to be a function of frontal area, coeff of drag, velocity, density, mass, & gravity.

Depending on how one weights themselves and how their F(b) changes with depth, the answer could be all over the map. If you're trying to ballpark it, dump all of your air at the surface (wing+suit), fully exhale, and time your sink to 20ft. It'll get a little faster as you get deeper since your F(b) should decrease due to small air pockets decreasing in volume (residuals in your wing & suit, bubbles in your neoprene).

Ross
(It is BEAUTIFUL in Seattle right now! I wish I had gear with me!)

The



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