USPA Skydiving B License Practice Test 2025 - Free Skydiving License Practice Questions and Exam Preparation.

Terminal velocity in skydiving refers to the maximum speed a skydiver reaches during freefall when the force of gravity is balanced by the drag force of the air resistance, resulting in no further acceleration. At this point, the skydiver falls at a constant speed because the upward force of air resistance equals the downward force of gravity.

This concept is critical for skydivers, as understanding terminal velocity helps them anticipate the speeds they will experience during freefall. Typically, a belly-to-earth position can lead to a terminal velocity of around 120 miles per hour (193 kilometers per hour), while other falling positions, such as head down, can increase this speed due to reduced drag.

The other options do not accurately define terminal velocity. The highest altitude a skydiver can reach pertains to elevation, not speed. The speed of ascent after freefall does not apply because skydivers are generally in freefall until they deploy their parachute. The velocity before parachute deployment refers to the state before terminal velocity is achieved, which is not the same as the maximum speed attained during freefall.