1. What is Impact Speed?

Impact speed is the velocity at which an object strikes the ground when falling from a certain height under the influence of gravity, assuming free fall conditions with no air resistance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the impact speed formula:

Where:

• \( v \) — Impact speed (m/s)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (m/s²)
• \( h \) — Height (m)

Explanation: This formula is derived from the conservation of energy principle, where potential energy at height h is converted to kinetic energy at impact.

3. Importance of Impact Speed Calculation

Details: Calculating impact speed is crucial for safety assessments, engineering design, accident reconstruction, and understanding the physics of falling objects in various applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter gravitational acceleration (default is Earth's gravity 9.81 m/s²) and height in meters. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this formula account for air resistance?
A: No, this formula assumes free fall with no air resistance. In real-world scenarios, air resistance reduces the actual impact speed.

Q2: What is the gravitational acceleration on Earth?
A: Standard Earth gravity is approximately 9.81 m/s², though it varies slightly with latitude and altitude.

Q3: Can this be used for objects thrown downward?
A: This formula calculates speed from rest. For objects with initial downward velocity, use \( v = \sqrt{v_0^2 + 2gh} \).

Q4: How does height affect impact speed?
A: Impact speed increases with the square root of height, meaning quadrupling the height only doubles the impact speed.

Q5: What are typical impact speeds for common heights?
A: From 10m: ~14 m/s (50 km/h), from 50m: ~31 m/s (112 km/h), from 100m: ~44 m/s (158 km/h).