In terms of motion, what type of effect does air resistance have on a moving object?

Air resistance, also known as drag, acts in the opposite direction of an object's motion. When an object moves through the air, the air molecules collide with the object, creating a force that opposes its movement. This opposing force reduces the object's velocity, making it slow down over time.

For instance, when a car drives at high speed, air resistance becomes significant, causing the vehicle to require more energy to maintain its velocity. Similarly, when a skydiver jumps from a plane, air resistance gradually increases as they fall, ultimately reaching a point where it balances the force of gravity, leading to terminal velocity. Thus, air resistance has a clear impact on the motion of objects by slowing them down.