Joe Rowing @jrowing.com · Jun 1

Using the standard drag equation and some back-of-the-envelope assumptions: 🐈 mass ≈ 4 kg 🪂 parachute diameter ≈ 1 m 🌍 air density ≈ 1.225 kg/m³ 📉 drag coefficient ≈ 1.5 The well prepared cat would have a terminal velocity of roughly 7 m/s

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Replies

Physgal ⚛️ · Jun 1

Nice!

Dan Burns · Jun 1

Cats can survive a fall without a parachute high enough so they reach terminal velocity, around 27 m/s. Some say 90% based on reports from vets, but that is probably wrong. Most cats that don’t survive don’t get taken to the vet.

Joe Rowing · Jun 1

I'm sure that you'll be glad to know (in case it;s not self-evident), that 7m/s is the equivalent of a fall of about 2.5m for a cat, entirely survivable and probably without injury.