NARRATOR: Why are aeroplanes always this long, thin, pointy shape?
LONG SHAPE: Different Language.
NARRATOR: Ah, so long and thin, pointy objects travel through the air more easily than short and wide shapes?
BOTH SHAPES: No, no, no…
NARRATOR: You’re right, long ,thin, pointed shapes really do move more easily through air than short and wide ones.
So you’re weight is the force pulling you down, but air resistance is another force acting upwards to make you move more slowly because it’s creating friction between the air and, well, you?
There’s less air resistance for long, thin objects like you, the aeroplane and birds. Wide objects like your friend, the cow or that umbrella, have more air resistance!
What’s happening, why have you slowed down?
LONG SHAPE: Different language.
NARRATOR: So with the umbrella, there’s more air resistance and that’s why you’re moving slower! Gotcha!
WIDE SHAPE: ARGH!
SPLASH
NARRATOR: Look, even in water long, thin objects travel faster because they create less resistance.
Wow, that shark really is the perfect shape to travel easily through water.
Air and water resistance
Friction occurs when objects move through water or air.
Air resistance is a type of friction between air and another material.
For example, when an aeroplane flies through the air, air particles hit the aeroplane making it more difficult for it to move through the air.
It's the same for an object moving through water. If you go swimming, there is friction between your skin and the water particles. This is known as water resistance.
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