Mary Allen
Introduction: The Phenomenon of Falling Objects
The phenomenon of falling objects has been observed and studied for centuries. It is a natural occurrence that can be seen everywhere, from the falling of raindrops to the dropping of a pencil. The force that causes objects to fall is gravity, which is the attraction between two objects due to their masses. However, not all objects fall at the same rate. Some objects, such as feathers, fall slower than others, such as rocks. This difference in falling speed is due to various factors, including air resistance, surface area, mass, gravity, altitude, terminal velocity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure.
Understanding Air Resistance
Air resistance, also known as drag, is a force that opposes the motion of an object through air. It is caused by the collisions of air molecules with the surface of the object. The amount of air resistance depends on the speed, size, shape, and texture of the object. Objects with larger surface areas experience more air resistance than objects with smaller surface areas. This is because more air molecules collide with the surface of the object, creating more drag. Air resistance can also be affected by the density and viscosity of the air, as well as the presence of turbulence and eddies.