When an object reaches its terminal velocity, gravity plays a significant role in its motion. Terminal velocity is the maximum velocity an object can attain when the resistance force (such as air resistance) equals the force of gravity acting upon it.
Gravity affects an object at its terminal velocity by providing a constant force pulling the object downwards. As the object falls, it accelerates due to the force of gravity until the resistance force (such as air resistance) builds up enough to counterbalance the gravitational force. At this point, the object stops accelerating and reaches a constant velocity, known as the terminal velocity.
In terms of mass and weight, the mass of the object remains constant regardless of whether it is falling or at rest. The weight of the object, however, can vary depending on the location within the planet's atmosphere.
When an object falls through a planet's atmosphere, not just at its surface, the weight of the object decreases due to the reduction in the force of gravity with increasing altitude. The gravitational force decreases with distance from the center of the planet, following the inverse square law. As the object moves higher in the atmosphere, the gravitational force becomes weaker, resulting in a decrease in weight.
It's important to note that while the weight decreases, the mass of the object remains the same. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and is independent of location, while weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and can vary with the strength of gravity at different locations.
As the falling object continues to descend through the atmosphere, the air resistance it encounters increases. At some point, the resistance force becomes equal to the gravitational force, leading to a balanced condition and the object reaching its terminal velocity. At terminal velocity, the object falls at a constant speed, with the upward air resistance force counteracting the downward force of gravity.
In summary, gravity affects an object at its terminal velocity by providing a constant force pulling it downwards. The mass of the object remains constant, but the weight decreases as it moves higher in the planet's atmosphere. The object reaches terminal velocity when the resistance force (such as air resistance) equals the force of gravity, resulting in a constant velocity during the descent.