Terminal velocity

• To begin with, the only force acting on the object is the force due to gravity, meaning that the forces are unbalanced and the object accelerates.
• Then, air resistance begins to resist the weight of the object, the forces are still unbalanced but the object will accelerate at a lower rate.
• Next, the air resistance and the weight of the object are now balanced. As the forces are balanced, the object is at a constant velocity (terminal velocity).
• After the parachute opens, massively increasing the air resistance, the forces are unbalanced again and the object decelerates.
• Finally, the object reaches a new lower terminal velocity because the lower speed has led to less air resistance, causing the forces the forces to be balanced again.