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  • Air Resistance on Falling Objects: Factors Affecting Motion
    An object's motion is most affected by air resistance when:

    * The object has a large surface area: A wider object will experience more air resistance than a narrow one. Think of a parachute versus a bullet.

    * The object has a low mass: A lighter object will be more affected by air resistance compared to a heavier object of the same size.

    * The object is moving at a high speed: Air resistance increases dramatically with speed. This is why a car driving at 100 mph encounters much more resistance than a car driving at 20 mph.

    * The object has an irregular shape: Objects with complex shapes that aren't aerodynamic (like a piece of paper) will experience more air resistance than smooth, streamlined shapes (like a bird).

    In summary: Air resistance is most significant for large, light objects moving quickly with irregular shapes.

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