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⬅️ Previous capture (2023-01-29)
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In the sciences, words and terms are given very precise meanings that are meant to remove all ambiguity and facilitate discourse. These words often have different meanings when used colloquially, which often leads to difficulties when trying to express a scientific concept to the general public. Anyone who has heard evolution dismissed as being merely a "theory" or the dangers of greenhouse gasses downplayed because they create a "positive feedback loop" is aware of this language barrier.
Recently I've noticed another term being used improperly. The physics term "terminal velocity" refers to the maximum speed at which an object will fall in a fluid (liquid or gas). It occurs when, subjected to freefall, the drag force on the object and its buoyancy in the fluid, effects that will slow its descent, equal the force of gravity on the object, an effect that will accelerate its descent. These forces then cancel out and the object falls at a constant speed.
Many people seem to be using this term specifically in reference to humans and other living creatures. Popular use of the phrase seems to indicate a speed at which a living being will die if it hits the ground. When someone is sucked out of a plane in a TV show or the news reports a story of someone falling off a cliff and dying, people seem to often refer to the speed of their plunge as "terminal velocity", regardless of the actual speed obtained.
I suspect that the confusion comes from the word "terminal". Physics and other sciences use the word to denote a boundary point, or a "terminus": a parameter in a system that either will not increase any further or will not decrease any further. In common parlance, however, the word "terminal" refers to something that is fatal, such as a terminal illness or terminal care.
Even in its incorrect usage, the phrase "terminal velocity" is a somewhat niche term, so it doesn't come up very often. When it does, however, it stands out like a sore thumb to me.
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[Last updated: 2022-08-14]