Yes.
For instance, on the moon (or just above it).
You can also build vacuum chambers on Earth.
It reduces the acceleration of the falling object due to friction.
As a falling object accelerates through air, its speed increases and air resistance increases. While gravity pulls the object down, we find that air resistance is trying to limit the object's speed. Air resistance reduces the acceleration of a falling object. It would accelerate faster if it was falling in a vacuum.
If there is no air resistance, gravity will accelerate the falling object, that is, it will change its velocity.
Air resistance creates friction and slows a falling object.
In free fall, when the air resistance is equal to the weight of the falling object, we say that the object has reached ________ velocity.
A falling elephant encounters a greater force of air resistance than a falling feather does. The force of air resistance can't be greater than the weight of the falling object. When the force of air resistance is equal to the weight of the falling object, the object stops accelerating, its falling speed becomes constant, and the force of air resistance doesn't get any bigger. So the force of air resistance against a falling feather can't be greater than the weight of the feather. But the force of air resistance against a falling elephant can be, and undoubtedly is, greater than the weight of a feather.
You're fishing for "air resistance" but your description isn't correct. Air resistance doesn't "slow" a falling object. Once the object has built up to some particular speed of fall, air resistance prevents it from falling any faster.
The shape of the object and the density of the gas that the object is falling through.
Just like any other source of friction, air resistance effectively results in a force opposite to the object's motion. If the object is falling, then the force is upward.
No, we have no influence on that.
If the object's falling energy increases (this would happen if the object is already falling downward, and air resistance is small), then the kinetic energy will increase.
The forces acting on a falling body are gravity and air resistance.