Formula for Aerodynamic Drag
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Theorem
The following formula can be used in aerodynamics to calculate an estimate of the drag on a body $B$ passing through a fluid $F$ (usually air):
- $D = \dfrac 1 2 k \rho A v^2$
where:
- $D$ is the drag on $B$
- $A$ is a representative area of cross-section of $B$
- $\rho$ is the density of $F$
- $v$ is the speed of $B$ through $F$
- $k$ is a coefficient which depends on the conditions, and is a function of the Reynolds number.
Sources
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): drag
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): drag