Air resistance

Question 1

What causes air resistance?

Answer 1

Air resistance is caused by the frictional forces of the air against the vehicle

Question 2

Fill in the blanks:
Objects at ….. speed push ……. air out of the way and experience ….. resistance

Answer 2

higher, more, more

Question 3

How does streamlining reduce friction (air resistance)

Answer 3

Streamlining helps to reduce friction by reducing the amount of surface area in contact with the air.

Question 4

Fill in the blanks:
When the skydiver jumps out of a plane the forces are __________. When she reaches a steady speed of about 50 m/s the forces are __________. The parachute then opens, and this makes the forces __________. She then reaches a lower terminal velocity of about 5 m/s and the forces are __________. Finally, the skydiver lands and stand on the ground. The forces are __________.

Answer 4

When the skydiver jumps out of a plane the forces are UNBALANCED. When she reaches a steady speed of about 50 m/s the forces are BALANCED. The parachute then opens, and this makes the forces UNBALANCED. She then reaches a lower terminal velocity of about 5 m/s and the forces are BALANCED. Finally, the skydiver lands and stand on the ground. The forces are BALANCED.

Question 5

What is the resultant force when terminal velocity is reached.

Answer 5

0 N, air resistance and the weight of the object are balanced.

Question 6

Why do a cricket ball and a tennis ball fall at approximately the same speed on earth even though the cricket ball is heavier.

Answer 6

Gravity is the same for both and as they are about the same size and shape the air resistance is about the same as well.