Air resistance, often referred to as drag, is a force that opposes the motion of an object through the air. It is a type of frictional force that acts in the opposite direction to the object's movement, slowing it down.
In GCSE Physics, students learn that air resistance is influenced by factors such as the object's speed, shape, and surface area, as well as the density of the air. Understanding air resistance is crucial when analysing how objects, such as vehicles or falling bodies, behave and how they can be streamlined to minimise this force for improved efficiency.
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