Yes, air resistance does affect free fall. Free fall refers to the motion of an object falling under the sole influence of gravity, without any other forces acting on it. In a vacuum or in the absence of air, objects in free fall experience only the force of gravity, and they accelerate uniformly.
However, in the presence of air or any fluid medium, objects experience a force known as air resistance or drag. Air resistance opposes the motion of an object through the air and depends on factors such as the shape, size, and speed of the object. As the object falls, air resistance increases with increasing velocity until it reaches a point where it balances the force of gravity. At this point, the object reaches its terminal velocity, and its speed remains constant because the upward force of air resistance equals the downward force of gravity.
The effect of air resistance on free fall can be significant for objects with a large surface area or objects with a relatively low mass-to-surface area ratio. For example, a feather will experience much more air resistance than a dense and compact object like a stone. In situations where air resistance is negligible, such as in a vacuum or with small, dense objects, the impact of air resistance on free fall is minimal.