Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Drag coefficients in fluids with Reynolds number approximately 10 4 [1] [2] Shapes are depicted with the same projected frontal area. In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: , or ) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water.
is the drag coefficient – a dimensionless coefficient related to the object's geometry and taking into account both skin friction and form drag. If the fluid is a liquid, c d {\displaystyle c_{\rm {d}}} depends on the Reynolds number ; if the fluid is a gas, c d {\displaystyle c_{\rm {d}}} depends on both the Reynolds number and the Mach number .
For an object with well-defined fixed separation points, like a circular disk with its plane normal to the flow direction, the drag coefficient is constant for Re > 3,500. [16] The further the drag coefficient C d is, in general, a function of the orientation of the flow with respect to the object (apart from symmetrical objects like a sphere).
Dimensionless numbers (or characteristic numbers) have an important role in analyzing the behavior of fluids and their flow as well as in other transport phenomena. [1] They include the Reynolds and the Mach numbers, which describe as ratios the relative magnitude of fluid and physical system characteristics, such as density, viscosity, speed of sound, and flow speed.
This template displays the symbol for coefficient of drag with an optional link to Drag coefficient (link=yes) or Automobile drag coefficient (link=car) and an optional value. If long=yes then the phrase 'drag coefficient of' is added to the front to make it easier to read as part of a full sentence.
Various other characteristics affect the coefficient of drag as well, and are taken into account in these examples. Many sports cars have a surprisingly high drag coefficient, as downforce implies drag, while others are designed to be highly aerodynamic in pursuit of a speed and efficiency, and as a result have much lower drag coefficients.
A n are experimentally determined coefficients. For air (Davies, 1945): [2] A 1 = 1.257 A 2 = 0.400 A 3 = 0.55. The Cunningham correction factor becomes significant when particles become smaller than 15 micrometers, for air at ambient conditions. For sub-micrometer particles, Brownian motion must be taken into account.
is the frictional force – known as Stokes' drag – acting on the interface between the fluid and the particle (newtons, kg m s −2); μ (some authors use the symbol η) is the dynamic viscosity (Pascal-seconds, kg m −1 s −1); R is the radius of the spherical object (meters);