Air Resistance
Key Stage 2
Meaning
Air Resistance is a force that slows objects down when they are moving through the air.
- Noun: Air Resistance
About Air Resistance
- Air Resistance can only happen to an object surrounded by air. It does not happen to objects underwater or in space.
- The amount of air resistance depends on:
- The size of an object.
- The shape of an object.
- How fast an object is moving through the air.
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| The van is smaller than the truck, so it feels less air resistance. | The truck is bigger than the van, so it feels more air resistance. |
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| The scrunched up paper has a lot of air resistance and will slow down quickly when you throw it. | The paper plane is streamlined so it does not have much air resistance and will keep going fast once you've thrown it. |
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| A spitfire can travel at a speed of 160 metres per second. | A jet fighter can travel 6 times faster that a spitfire so it feels a lot more air resistance. |
Experiments
Air Resistance and Cupcake Cases