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This chart shows a depiction of interception and impaction.

The top image is of interception: This is a cross-sectional view of the fiber. As the air stream moves through the fibers, hitting tangentially against the fiber of the filtering mechanism, it will attach itself and become captured on that fiber. The particles are moving within the airstream and the airstream is converted around the filter fiber, then they go along the edge of the fiber and get captured.

The bottom image is of impaction: The particle is larger and heavier and does not move as quickly as the airflow so it is not converted. Instead of following the air around the filter fiber, it travels more straight and run into the filter fiber becoming captured as well.