All Textbook Topics - Forces introduction - Types of forces - Air resistance is a resistive force which occurs in the opposite direction to motion when objects are moving through the air at any speed

Air resistance is a resistive force which occurs in the opposite direction to motion when objects are moving through the air at any speed

Air resistance acts in the opposite direction to the direction of motion when an object is moving through air. In this first example the car is moving to the right so the air resistance is to the left:

In the second example, the ball is rolling down the hill so the air resistance is up the hill:

In the last example below, the ball is falling down so the air resistance is acting upwards:

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The normal reaction force occurs as an equal and opposite reaction force to an applied force on a stable object
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Friction is a force that resists motion

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