what happens when a falling object reaches terminal velocity?
When a falling object reaches terminal velocity, it means that the acceleration due to gravity is balanced by the resistance of the medium through which it is falling (usually air). At this point, the object no longer accelerates and instead falls at a constant speed.
Terminal velocity is the maximum speed that an object can achieve during freefall. The specific terminal velocity depends on various factors including the object's mass, size, shape, and the properties of the medium. As the object falls and gains speed, the resistance force from the medium increases until it becomes equal in magnitude to the force of gravity pulling the object downward. At this point, the net force acting on the object becomes zero, resulting in no further acceleration.
Once the object reaches terminal velocity, it continues to fall at a constant speed without increasing its velocity any further. It will keep falling at this speed until one of the following happens: (1) it encounters a change in the medium, such as entering a denser or less dense atmosphere, causing the terminal velocity to change, (2) an external force is applied to the object, altering its motion, or (3) the object lands or collides with something, at which point terminal velocity becomes irrelevant.