Forces such as gravity and friction can affect the speed and direction of an object.
Air Resistance
Air resistance, also known as drag, is a force that is caused by movement through the air. This force, like friction, acts in the opposite direction to an object moving through the air as air particles hit the object slowing it down. The greater the surface area, the more air particles hit it and the greater the resistance.
For example, a truck with a flat front will experience more air resistance while a sports car with a streamlined shape will experience less air resistance, allowing the sports car to go faster.
Regardless of an object's mass (bowling ball or feather) they all should fall at the same speed on Earth.
(9.8 m/s2)
(9.8 m/s2)
In the late 16th century, Galileo did a famous experiment about gravity where he dropped balls from the Tower of Pisa. He later rolled balls down inclined ramps. With these experiments, Galileo showed that gravity accelerates all objects at the same speed regardless of weight. See for yourself in this video! |
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Don't believe me!? Well, astronauts tested this out is space!
Check out how a hammer and a feather fall on the Moon!
Check out how a hammer and a feather fall on the Moon!
Air Resistance
is the Reason Why Objects Fall at Different Speeds
Terminal VelocityTerminal velocity happens at the moment in time that the force of gravity, called weight, is the same as the opposite force of air resistance or friction. In other words, terminal velocity is the point at which the velocity (speed of moving of the falling object) is no longer getting greater. The gravitational force minus the force of drag (or air resistance) equals zero.
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Video Guide:
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Topic Tips
- Air resistance is a force working in the opposite direction to an object moving through the air causing it to slow down.
- Without air resistance all objects fall at 9.8 m/s2 on Earth.