* Gravity (Weight): This force pulls the object downwards, causing it to accelerate.
* Air Resistance (Drag): This force opposes the motion of the object, pushing upwards.
Here's the key point: At terminal velocity, these two forces are balanced.
This means:
* The force of gravity pulling the object down is equal to the force of air resistance pushing it up.
* The object is no longer accelerating and is falling at a constant speed.
Think of it like this: Imagine a skydiver. At first, they accelerate downwards because gravity is stronger than air resistance. As their speed increases, air resistance also increases. Eventually, the air resistance becomes equal to the force of gravity, and the skydiver stops accelerating. They continue to fall at a constant speed, which is their terminal velocity.
