Impact speed is the speed at which an object collides with another object or surface.
Terminal velocity is the maximum speed an object can reach when falling through a fluid, such as air or water, due to the balance between gravity and air resistance.
Impact speed and terminal velocity are related in that impact speed is the speed at which an object will collide with a surface, while terminal velocity is the maximum speed an object can reach before air resistance causes it to stop accelerating.
Yes, impact speed can be equal to terminal velocity if an object has been falling for a sufficient amount of time to reach its maximum speed before colliding with a surface.
Air resistance plays a major role in determining both the impact speed and terminal velocity of an object. As an object falls, air resistance increases, slowing down the object's acceleration and eventually reaching a point where it balances out with gravity and the object stops accelerating, reaching its terminal velocity. The amount of air resistance also impacts the impact speed, as a higher air resistance will slow down the object more before impact.