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Learning objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Define drag force and model it mathematically.
  • Discuss the applications of drag force.
  • Define terminal velocity.
  • Perform calculations to find terminal velocity.

Another interesting force in everyday life is the force of drag on an object when it is moving in a fluid (either a gas or a liquid). You feel the drag force when you move your hand through water. You might also feel it if you move your hand during a strong wind. The faster you move your hand, the harder it is to move. You feel a smaller drag force when you tilt your hand so only the side goes through the air—you have decreased the area of your hand that faces the direction of motion. Like friction, the drag force    always opposes the motion of an object. Unlike simple friction, the drag force is proportional to some function of the velocity of the object in that fluid. This functionality is complicated and depends upon the shape of the object, its size, its velocity, and the fluid it is in. For most large objects such as bicyclists, cars, and baseballs not moving too slowly, the magnitude of the drag force F D size 12{F rSub { size 8{D} } } {} is found to be proportional to the square of the speed of the object. We can write this relationship mathematically as F D v 2 size 12{F rSub { size 8{D} } α`v rSup { size 8{2} } } {} . When taking into account other factors, this relationship becomes

F D = 1 2 Av 2 , size 12{F rSub { size 8{D} } =0 "." 5Cρ ital "Av" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

where C size 12{C} {} is the drag coefficient, A size 12{A} {} is the area of the object facing the fluid, and ρ size 12{ρ} {} is the density of the fluid. (Recall that density is mass per unit volume.) This equation can also be written in a more generalized fashion as F D = bv 2 , where b is a constant equivalent to 0 .5 CρA . We have set the exponent for these equations as 2 because, when an object is moving at high velocity through air, the magnitude of the drag force is proportional to the square of the speed. As we shall see in a few pages on fluid dynamics, for small particles moving at low speeds in a fluid, the exponent is equal to 1.

Drag force

Drag force F D size 12{F rSub { size 8{D} } } {} is found to be proportional to the square of the speed of the object. Mathematically

F D v 2 size 12{F rSub { size 8{D} } α`v rSup { size 8{2} } } {}
F D = 1 2 Av 2 , size 12{F rSub { size 8{D} } =0 "." 5Cρ ital "Av" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

where C size 12{C} {} is the drag coefficient, A size 12{A} {} is the area of the object facing the fluid, and ρ size 12{ρ} {} is the density of the fluid.

Athletes as well as car designers seek to reduce the drag force to lower their race times. (See [link] ). “Aerodynamic” shaping of an automobile can reduce the drag force and so increase a car's gas mileage.

A two-person team in a bobsled race. The bobsled has an aerodynamic design and smooth runners so it can go as fast as possible.
From racing cars to bobsled racers, aerodynamic shaping is crucial to achieving top speeds. Bobsleds are designed for speed. They are shaped like a bullet with tapered fins. (credit: U.S. Army, via Wikimedia Commons)

The value of the drag coefficient, C size 12{C} {} , is determined empirically, usually with the use of a wind tunnel. (See [link] ).

A model plane is can be seen being tested in a wind tunnel.
NASA researchers test a model plane in a wind tunnel. (credit: NASA/Ames)

The drag coefficient can depend upon velocity, but we will assume that it is a constant here. [link] lists some typical drag coefficients for a variety of objects. Notice that the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity. At highway speeds, over 50% of the power of a car is used to overcome air drag. The most fuel-efficient cruising speed is about 70–80 km/h (about 45–50 mi/h). For this reason, during the 1970s oil crisis in the United States, maximum speeds on highways were set at about 90 km/h (55 mi/h).

Practice Key Terms 2

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Source:  OpenStax, College physics for ap® courses. OpenStax CNX. Nov 04, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11844/1.14
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