Question

Consider how a projectile's motion is affected by the air it travels through. In which dimension does the air affect the projectile's motion,
and how?

The air would affect the forward direction and would cause the speed of the object to increase.
The air would affect the forward direction and would cause the speed of the object to increase.

The air would affect the downward direction and would cause the speed of the object to decrease.
The air would affect the downward direction and would cause the speed of the object to decrease.

The air would not affect the object at all.
The air would not affect the object at all.

The air would affect the forward direction and would cause the speed of the object to decrease.

Answer 1

Pick: "The air would affect the forward direction and would cause the speed of the object to decrease."

Why: air resistance (drag) acts opposite the instantaneous velocity, so it reduces the speed of the projectile. That most noticeably reduces the horizontal (forward) component of velocity, shortening the range. It also affects the vertical component (it opposes upward motion and reduces the net downward acceleration when falling), but the simple correct choice among the options given is that air slows the forward motion.