Terminal speed, also known as terminal velocity, is the maximum speed that an object can reach when falling through a fluid, such as air or water. It occurs when the force of gravity pulling the object down is equal to the drag force pushing against it.
The formula for calculating terminal speed is: vt = √(2mg/ρACd) where vt is terminal speed, m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, ρ is the density of the fluid, A is the cross-sectional area of the object, and Cd is the drag coefficient.
The factors that affect terminal speed include the mass and shape of the object, the density and viscosity of the fluid, and the gravitational force acting on the object.
Air resistance, also known as drag, plays a crucial role in determining terminal speed. As an object falls through the air, it experiences an upward force of air resistance that increases as its speed increases. When the air resistance force becomes equal to the force of gravity, the object will reach terminal speed and stop accelerating.
When an object reaches terminal speed, it will continue to fall at a constant speed. This is because the forces acting on the object are balanced, with the force of gravity pulling it down and the drag force pushing against it. The object will not speed up or slow down unless there is a change in the factors affecting terminal speed, such as a change in the object's mass or the density of the fluid.