StellarResistive forces are forces that oppose motion through a medium such as air or water. They result from microscopic interactions between the moving object and the particles of the medium. These forces convert mechanical energy into thermal energy, reducing the object’s kinetic energy over time.
The most common resistive forces are drag (experienced in fluids) and air resistance (a special case of drag). Both act in the direction opposite to velocity. The magnitude of these forces depends on the object’s speed, shape, surface area, and the properties of the medium.