terminal velocity
noun
Physics.
- 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.
- the maximum velocity of a body falling through a viscous fluid.
Rocketry, Ballistics.
- the greatest speed that a rocket, missile, etc., attains after burnout or after leaving the barrel of a gun.
- the speed of a missile or projectile on impact with its target.
Words nearby terminal velocity
terminal nerve,
terminal nucleus,
terminal platform,
terminal stria,
terminal sulcus,
terminal velocity,
terminate,
terminating decimal,
terminatio,
termination,
termination codon
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