3.2.13

Water & Air Resistance

Test yourself

Air and Water Resistance

Water resistance and air resistance are both forms of friction. They both oppose the motion of an object as it travels through the medium.

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Water resistance

  • It is harder to walk through water than it is to walk on land.
    • This is because water resists your motion.
  • Water resistance is a form of friction between the object and the water.
  • Sharks are streamlined so they can travel through the water quickly to catch their prey.
  • The best swimmers reduce contact with the water as much as possible to reduce friction.
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Air resistance

  • If you are riding a moped, you will be slowed down by the air.
  • This is air resistance. Air resistance is a frictional force.
  • Aeroplanes are streamlined so they can travel through the air smoothly.
  • Cyclist and skiers crouch down as much as they can to reduce air resistance.
  • Geese fly in the ā€˜Vā€™ shape and change positions, which reduces air resistance for the birds at the back.
  • As an object moves faster through the air, the air resistance will also increase.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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