What is air resistance?

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The acceleration of an object depends on two variables which are the net force acting upon the object and the object’s mass. Remember Newton’s second law of motion? It pertains to how objects behave when all existing forces involved are not balanced. It also states that as the mass of an object is increased, the acceleration of that object is decreased. But imagine if an object is in the air are there any other variables present?

Air resistance, or what we also call a drag, is the force that is in opposition to the relative motion of an object when it is in the air. Air resistance is the component of the net aerodynamic force which acts oppositely to the direction of the movement of the object. Basically, it acts against the oncoming flow velocity.

Because air resistance is a type of frictional force, thrust overcomes it. Usually, drag is not very strong. Take for example of the air resistance force when you walk and when you run. When you walk, you might not notice the opposing force from the air, although when you sprint fast, the air resistance will be more noticeable. The most vital thing keep in mind is that the speed and the size of the surface area of a moving object determine the opposing force of air resistance.

Another great example is a skydiver with a parachute. The gravitational downward pull of the earth is the terminal speed of the skydiver, while an upward opposing force is the result of air resistance. The parachute will increase the surface area of a skydiver hence maximizing the air resistance. If the same skydiver doesn’t use a parachute, he or she will fall and hit the ground at very high speed because of lesser air resistance.

Now try to imagine a basketball and a bowling ball being dropped at the same height and at the same time, which do you think would fall first?

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