A feather falls at terminal velocity. Which forces act on the feather?

A feather falls at terminal velocity. Which forces act on the feather?

• A. Gravity only
• B. Normal force and gravity
• C. Air resistance only
• D. Air resistance and gravity

Answer: (D)

When something falls through air and reaches terminal velocity, the motion is governed by a balance of forces. The feather is pulled downward by gravity (its weight) and pushed upward by air resistance (drag). At terminal velocity, these two forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, so the net force is zero and the feather continues to fall at a constant speed. There is no normal force here, because there’s no surface contact in free fall. If there were only gravity, the feather would keep accelerating; if there were only air resistance, there’d be nothing pulling it downward. So the correct description is that both air resistance and gravity act on the feather.

When something falls through air and reaches terminal velocity, the motion is governed by a balance of forces. The feather is pulled downward by gravity (its weight) and pushed upward by air resistance (drag). At terminal velocity, these two forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, so the net force is zero and the feather continues to fall at a constant speed. There is no normal force here, because there’s no surface contact in free fall. If there were only gravity, the feather would keep accelerating; if there were only air resistance, there’d be nothing pulling it downward. So the correct description is that both air resistance and gravity act on the feather.