Eli5:Why do almost weightless things like leaves move out the way when you try to hit them.?

Question

Eli5:Why do almost weightless things like leaves move out the way when you try to hit them.?

In: Physics

Answer 1

My Spanish mother told me once “In my country we have a word for air in movement, it is El Viento” and my sister looks at her and says, “yeah we have that too. It’s called wind. “

Your hand or broom or whatever you’re swinging is pushing the air in front of it. That cushion of air pushes against anything else in front of it. If the thing is super light, it won’t take much of that air-cushion to move it out of the way.