settling velocity

Settling velocity is the speed at which a particle sinks through a fluid, like water or air, due to gravity. It depends on the particle’s size, shape, and density, as well as the fluid’s density and viscosity. Larger, denser particles generally settle faster, while smaller or less dense particles settle more slowly. This concept helps in understanding how particles like sediments or pollutants disperse or accumulate in natural environments and industrial processes, influencing things like water clarity, sediment formation, and pollutant removal.