A falling human reaches a top speed where air resistance perfectly balances gravity
When a human falls through the sky, they eventually reach terminal velocity, a physical state where the upward force of air resistance perfectly cancels out the downward pull of gravity.
A person in a spread-eagle freefall typically reaches terminal velocity after about 12 seconds, topping out at 120 miles per hour. At this speed, the drag coefficient balances the force of gravity, preventing further acceleration. For paratroopers, this mastery of fluid dynamics is essential for safe deployments from high-altitude aircraft like the C-17 Globemaster.
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