How does air resistance act as a form of friction?

Answer 1

When consider the micro scale. Pusing a mass need force and air has mass. Object travel through air would push and drag air along with it and so the conservation of momentum would made the object slow down because it speed air up. The object shape also affect the amount of air push, more surface contact with air is more friction and smoother the surface would less dragging air along with it and is lesser friction.

Answer 2

Air resistance, also called drag force, is a frictional force that opposes the motion of an object moving through air. As an object moves, it creates turbulence and pushes air molecules out of its way, which results in a force that acts in the opposite direction to its motion. This force reduces the speed of the object and can cause it to slow down.