terminal velocity
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the constant speed reached by a falling object when the drag force equals the gravitational force pulling it downward, resulting in no further acceleration
- Skydivers reach terminal velocity during their freefall before deploying their parachutes.
- A dropped feather and a bowling ball will fall at different rates due to differences in terminal velocity.
- Engineers calculate terminal velocity to design safe parachute deployments for spacecraft re-entry.
- Understanding terminal velocity is crucial in designing effective airbags for vehicle safety.
- Meteorologists study terminal velocity to predict how fast hailstones will fall during storms.