A nurse is caring for a patient who has suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling from a height. The nurse knows that the severity of the injury depends on the speed at which the patient hit the ground. Which of the following factors affects the terminal velocity of a falling object?
A. The shape and surface area of the object.
B. The mass and volume of the object.
C. The acceleration and momentum of the object.
D. The height and distance of the fall.
The correct answer is choice A.
The shape and surface area of the object.
The terminal velocity of an object falling through a fluid is affected by several factors, including its mass and shape.
Objects with large surface areas will often experience a large amount of air resistance when they move.
Choice B is incorrect because the volume of the object does not affect its terminal velocity.
Choice C is incorrect because the acceleration and momentum of the object do not affect its terminal velocity.
Choice D is incorrect because the height and distance of the fall do not affect the terminal velocity of a falling object.
Therefore, the Correct Answer is A.