peregrine falcon question

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From: SOXYTHECAT@aol.com
Date: Wed Oct 03 2001 - 22:14:38 PDT 

From: SOXYTHECAT@aol.com
Message-ID: <15e.1d39d70.28ed4a3e@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 01:14:38 EDT
Subject: peregrine falcon question

Hello Pinholers.
I have a question about terminal velocity and diving raptors:

The US Fish and Wildlife Service says that the speed of a diving Peregrine
falcon can be more than 200 mph.

How can what is essentially a sleek package of light bone and feathers go so
fast?
(The Exploratorium Snackbook says that terminal velocity of a person in free
fall is 120 mph.)
Would a replica of a falcon (same air resistance, shape, mass etc.. but no
flying ability) hit terminal velocity before or after 200 mph?
Does a falcon have to fly itself downward to attain such speeds?
Does it then decelerate for the rest of its dive?

I hope you are all enjoying the school year and having fun with your students.
Thanks for you help.
-Regan

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