Air resistance is a kind of friction that occurs between air and another object. It is the opposing force that the object experiences as it passes through the air. Air resistance and gravity are the two fixed forces of nature which move on any object lifted from the Earth and moved through the air.

For example, when a plane flies through the air, the air particles are resisting the aeroplane, making it harder for the aircraft to move.

That’s why when you see a feather or some cotton wool, it doesn’t seem to fall to the ground very fast. This is partly because these things are light, but also because they fluff or branch out, creating air resistance that slows it down.

Also known as ‘drag,’ air resistance is a force caused by air. The air particles hit the front of an object, causing it to slow down. The greater the surface area, the greater the number of air particles hit the object and the greater the overall resistance.

There are two main things that affect air resistance- the speed of the object, and the cross-sectional area of the object. The faster an object is going, the more air resistance there’ll be. It’s the same for a large cross-sectional area; the bigger the surface area the bigger the amount of air resistance.

Watch this video. Gravity and air resistance | Physics – Bitesize Science