A raindrop descending near the surface of the earth maintains an almost uniform velocity because

Step-by-step solution

When a raindrop falls under gravity, it accelerates initially. As its velocity increases, the upward viscous drag force exerted by the air also increases. According to Stokes' law, the viscous force is directly proportional to the velocity of the raindrop ( F_v = 6 r v ). When this upward viscous force becomes equal to the downward weight of the raindrop, the net force acting on it becomes zero. As a result, the raindrop stops accelerating and continues to fall with a constant velocity, known as the terminal veloci