Water Resistance
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
Water Resistance is a force that slows objects down when they are moving through water.
- Noun: Water Resistance
About Water Resistance
- Water Resistance is a contact force.
- Water Resistance can only happen to an object in the water. It does not happen to objects on land, in the air or space.
- The amount of water resistance depends on:
- The size of an object.
- The shape of an object.
- How fast an object is moving through the water.
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| The trout is smaller than the dolphin, so it feels less water resistance. | The dolphin is bigger than the trout, so it feels more water resistance. |
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| The cube is not streamlined so it will feel a lot of water resistance. | The sphere is more streamlined than the cube so it will feel less water resistance. |
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| A rowboat is much slower than a speedboat so it does not feel as much water resistance. | A speedboat is much faster than a rowboat so it feels a lot more water resistance. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Water Resistance is a force which acts to decelerate objects that are moving through water.
About Water Resistance
- Water resistance is a force so it is measured in Newtons.
- Water resistance is a contact force because it can only exist when an object is moving in the water.
- Water resistance increases with speed. The faster you travel the greater the water resistance.
- Water resistance depends on the surface area facing the direction of motion. The bigger the surface area, the larger the water resistance
Examples
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| As the boat moves through the water the water resistance slows it down. | The thrust of the submarine must provide a constant force to stay at the same speed because the water resistance would cause it to slow down. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Water Resistance is a force which acts to decelerate objects that are moving through the water.
About Water Resistance
- Water resistance is a force so it is measured in Newtons.
- Water resistance is a contact force because it can only exist when an object is moving in the water.
- Water resistance increases with speed. The faster you travel the greater the water resistance.
- Water resistance depends on the surface area facing the direction of motion. The bigger the surface area, the larger the water resistance
- Water resistance exists because objects moving through water collide with the water molecules passing on some of its momentum which causes the object to lose momentum and therefore slow down.
Examples
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| As the boat moves through the water the water resistance slows it down. | The thrust of the submarine must provide a constant force to stay at the same speed because the water resistance would cause it to slow down. |