terminal velocity


noun

Physics.
  1. the velocity at which a falling body moves through a medium, as air, when the force of resistance of the medium is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force of gravity.
  2. the maximum velocity of a body falling through a viscous fluid.
Rocketry, Ballistics.
  1. the greatest speed that a rocket, missile, etc., attains after burnout or after leaving the barrel of a gun.
  2. the speed of a missile or projectile on impact with its target.

Example sentences from the Web for terminal velocity

  • I went out to do the terminal-velocity dive with the nine-g pull-out.

    Test Pilot |David Goodger (goodger@python.org)

British Dictionary definitions for terminal velocity

terminal velocity

noun

the constant maximum velocity reached by a body falling under gravity through a fluid, esp the atmosphere
the velocity of a missile or projectile when it reaches its target
the maximum velocity attained by a rocket, missile, or shell flying in a parabolic flight path
the maximum velocity that an aircraft can attain, as determined by its total drag