terminal velocity
/ˈtɜːrmɪnəl vəˈlɒsɪti/ · ter·mi·nal ve·lo·ci·ty
noun
- The constant speed reached by an object falling through a fluid when the force of gravity is exactly balanced by the drag force, so it ceases to accelerate. A skydiver in a stable belly‑to‑earth position typically reaches a terminal velocity of about 55 m/s.
Synonyms
maximum speedsteady speedlimiting speedequilibrium speeddrag‑limited speedasymptotic speedfinal speedconstant fall speed
Antonyms
Did you know? The term gained popular attention when Felix Baumgartner broke the sound barrier during a high‑altitude jump in 2012, briefly exceeding his own terminal velocity before deploying his parachute.