Here's why:

* Air resistance is a force that opposes the motion of an object through the air. It's caused by the friction between the object's surface and the air molecules.

* Surface area directly affects the amount of contact an object has with the air. A larger surface area means more air molecules are interacting with the object, resulting in greater friction and thus higher air resistance.

Example: A parachute has a large surface area, which allows it to create significant air resistance, slowing down the descent of a person.