What term refers to the constant velocity of a falling object when air resistance equals gravitational force?

The term that refers to the constant velocity of a falling object when air resistance equals gravitational force is terminal velocity. At this point, the net force acting on the object becomes zero, meaning that the downward gravitational force is perfectly balanced by the upward force of air resistance. As a result, the object no longer accelerates but continues to fall at a steady speed, known as terminal velocity.

This concept is important in understanding how objects fall through different mediums. For example, a skydiver experiences increasing air resistance as they accelerate downwards; eventually, they reach a point where the forces balance, and they stop accelerating, maintaining a constant speed until they deploy their parachute or reach the ground.

When comparing with other terms, acceleration refers to the rate of change of velocity, which is not applicable at terminal velocity since the speed is constant. Free fall describes the motion of an object under the influence of gravity alone, without air resistance, and is thus not relevant when discussing terminal velocity. Equilibrium generally refers to a state where forces are balanced but does not specifically describe the motion of falling objects as terminal velocity does.