Free Fall:
* Initial State: When an object is first released in free fall, the only force acting on it is gravity. This results in a constant acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth).
* Increasing Velocity: As the object falls, its velocity increases because of this constant acceleration.
Approaching Terminal Velocity:
* Air Resistance: As the object's velocity increases, the force of air resistance (drag) also increases. Air resistance opposes the direction of motion.
* Net Force Decreases: The net force acting on the object decreases because air resistance is now partially counteracting gravity.
* Deceleration: Since the net force is decreasing, the object's acceleration also decreases. It's not accelerating as rapidly as it was initially.
Terminal Velocity:
* Equilibrium: Terminal velocity is reached when the force of air resistance equals the force of gravity. At this point, the net force on the object is zero.
* Constant Velocity: With zero net force, the object no longer accelerates. It continues to fall at a constant velocity, which is called terminal velocity.
In Summary:
The acceleration of an object in free fall decreases as it approaches terminal velocity. This happens because air resistance increases, opposing gravity and reducing the net force acting on the object. At terminal velocity, the acceleration becomes zero, and the object falls at a constant speed.
