When an object falls through air and reaches terminal velocity, what happens to the energy transfer rate and why does it stop increasing?

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Multiple Choice

When an object falls through air and reaches terminal velocity, what happens to the energy transfer rate and why does it stop increasing?

When an object falls through air, gravity does work on it, increasing its kinetic energy. As speed rises, drag grows and acts upward, opposing the motion. Terminal velocity occurs when drag equals the weight, so the net force is zero and the object stops accelerating. The kinetic energy stops increasing, and the energy continued to be supplied by gravity is now dissipated as heat in the air due to drag.

When an object falls through air, gravity does work on it, increasing its kinetic energy. As speed rises, drag grows and acts upward, opposing the motion. Terminal velocity occurs when drag equals the weight, so the net force is zero and the object stops accelerating. The kinetic energy stops increasing, and the energy continued to be supplied by gravity is now dissipated as heat in the air due to drag.

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