AbraCalc

Terminal Velocity of a Baseball (0.145 kg)

A baseball falling through air reaches terminal velocity at roughly 42 m/s given its mass and cross-section.

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How to use this tool

  1. Enter mass, gravitational acceleration, drag coefficient cd, fluid density ρ and cross-sectional area a in the fields above.
  2. Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
  3. Read your terminal velocity and the full breakdown beneath it.

A regulation baseball has a mass of about 145 g and a diameter of 7.4 cm, giving a cross-section near 0.0043 m².

Frequently asked questions

What is a typical skydiver terminal velocity?
In a spread-eagle position (Cd≈1.0, A≈0.7 m²) around 55–60 m/s (200 km/h). Head-down (Cd≈0.7, A≈0.3 m²) can reach ~80 m/s (290 km/h).
What drag coefficient should I use?
Sphere: 0.47, cube: 1.05, flat disk: 1.17, skydiver prone: ~1.0, streamlined body: 0.04–0.1.