What is drag?

Drag is when something moves through a liquid or gas, and it feels like it's being pushed back by an invisible friend.

Imagine you're swimming in a pool. Every time you kick your legs, the water around you resists, it’s not easy to go through water! That resistance is called drag. It's like having a little friend in the water who says, "Hey, I don’t want to move that much!"

Now think of riding your bike on a calm day versus a windy day. On a windy day, the wind pushes against you and makes it harder to go fast. That’s drag too, but from air instead of water.

Sometimes, drag can be helpful or not so helpful. For example, when you're swimming, drag slows you down, but if you're wearing a swimsuit that helps you slice through the water better, you’re fighting drag more effectively!

So next time you swim or ride your bike, remember: you’re not just moving, you're battling drag!