What happens when an object reaches terminal velocity during free fall?

When an object reaches terminal velocity during free fall, it means that the force of gravity acting on the object is balanced by the air resistance or drag acting against it. At this point, the net force on the object becomes zero, leading to a state of dynamic equilibrium. As a result, the object no longer accelerates and continues to fall at a constant speed.

The concept of terminal velocity is crucial in understanding how forces interact during free fall. As an object falls, it initially accelerates due to gravity. However, as its speed increases, the air resistance opposing the fall grows stronger. Eventually, the force of air resistance equals the gravitational force, resulting in a situation where acceleration ceases, and the object falls at this steady speed known as terminal velocity.

This explains why balancing forces is fundamental in free fall scenarios: when the forces are equal, the object maintains a constant velocity instead of either continuing to speed up or slowing down.