Do you know the speed of a falling raindrop ?

@tudors (1556)
China
February 16, 2009 5:39am CST
Do you know the speed of a falling raindrop ? Ok, I'll tell you. It depends on the raindrop, how fast it falls : the heavier, the faster. At sea level, a large raindrop about 5mm across (house-fly size ) falls at the rate of 9m/sec (20m/hr). Drizzle drops fall at 2m/sec. A raindrop starts falling and then picks up speed due to gravity. meanwhile, the drag of the surrounding air slows the drop's fall. The two forces balance when the air resistance just equals the weight of the raindrop. Then the drop reaches its terminal speed and falls at that speed until it hits the ground.
1 response
@huggybau (24)
• Italy
16 Feb 09
ehm... yes... clear... and you also know what's MY speed when i'm outside and it starts raining? :-D
@tudors (1556)
• China
16 Feb 09
haha :) I think i know . give me a second and I'll make a calculation.
• Italy
16 Feb 09
:-)