Why does a falling coin stop getting faster?
Gravity keeps pulling on a falling coin, yet that does not mean its speed must increase forever. Air resistance grows with speed until the forces can balance in a simplified model. The object then keeps moving without accelerating. A tumbling coin adds complications because its orientation changes the drag; the basic force balance is a starting point, not a personal-safety verdict.
Questions you could explore
- Why does zero net force mean constant velocity rather than an object suddenly stopping?
Start reading
- OpenStax University Physics Volume 16.4 Drag Force and Terminal Speed
Explains why increasing drag can balance weight, producing continued motion without continued acceleration.
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