Drag Force vs Gravity: Physics of Falling Objects and Terminal Velocity #3725700 (License: Personal Use)

This schematic depicts a spherical object moving through a fluid (e.g., air), where the downward gravitational force (F_g = mg) is balanced by the upward drag force (F_d), which increases with velocity. The curved streamlines represent laminar flow around the sphere, indicating how fluid resistance builds until terminal velocity is reached. The diagram is commonly used to introduce Newton’s second law in fluid dynamics contexts.

Used in high school or undergraduate physics education to explain forces on falling bodies, terminal velocity, and fluid resistance; appears in textbooks, lecture slides, and interactive simulations targeting learners studying mechanics or aerodynamics.