---
title: "Air Resistance & Friction"
description: "Identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance, and friction, and understand that these forces act between moving surfaces to oppose motion"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/air-resistance-and-friction-mt_Y9k86G8BBT
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/air-resistance-and-friction-mt_Y9k86G8BBT.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Air Resistance & Friction

Identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance, and friction, and understand that these forces act between moving surfaces to oppose motion

Subject: Science · Area: Forces & Motion · Ages 9 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/air-resistance-and-friction-mt_Y9k86G8BBT

## Ready when they can

- Define air resistance, water resistance, and friction as forces that oppose motion
- Give everyday examples of each force and explain how they slow things down
- Describe how these forces depend on factors like speed, surface area, or surface texture

## Lesson: Air Resistance & Friction

Air, water, and friction are forces that push back against you when you try to move. They do not pull you down like gravity. Instead, they press or rub against you from the direction you are moving, and that slows you down.

*(drawing: Push your hand through the air, then through water. Water pushes back much harder.)*

**Example.** When a skydiver opens a parachute, the wide cloth catches a lot of air. All that trapped air pushes back hard, called air resistance, so the skydiver falls much slower and lands safely.

**Example.** Bike brakes squeeze rubber pads against the metal wheel rim. Rubber is rough and grips well, so it creates strong friction that stops the wheel quickly.

**Tip.** The faster you move, or the bigger the surface facing the air or water, the stronger the push against you. A parachute is wide on purpose, and a flat hand feels more resistance in water than a fist does.

**Recap.** Air resistance, water resistance, and friction all push back against motion, and they grow stronger with more speed, bigger surfaces, or rougher textures.

## Practice

12 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Friction & Surfaces](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/friction-and-surfaces-mt_-p_xp4hMvh)
- [Gravity & Falling Objects](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/gravity-and-falling-objects-mt_AvrQauS_zX)
- [Drawing Force Diagrams](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/drawing-force-diagrams-mt_k7GOtslF-x)

## Opens up

- [Newton's First & Second Laws](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/newtons-first-and-second-laws-mt_tXxxCFl32J)