is air resistnace negaitve because it opposes the motion?
Air resistance is not negative, but it acts in the direction opposite to the motion of an object through the air. It opposes the motion of the object by applying a force in the opposite direction.
To understand why air resistance opposes motion, we need to consider Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When an object moves through the air, it pushes the air molecules out of its way, and in turn, the air molecules exert a force on the object. This force is known as air resistance.
Air resistance depends on several factors such as the speed and shape of the object, as well as the density and viscosity of the air. It increases with the speed of the object. At low speeds, the air resistance is typically small compared to other forces acting on the object, such as gravity. However, at higher speeds, air resistance becomes more significant and can greatly impact the motion of the object.
So, to answer your initial question, air resistance opposes the motion of an object, but it is not negative. It is simply a force that acts in the opposite direction to the object's motion through the air.