drag coefficient
Aerodynamic friction measure
The drag coefficient is a dimensionless number expressing how much air resistance an object encounters as it moves.
A lower coefficient means less drag—a teardrop shape has a low drag coefficient, a flat plate perpendicular to airflow has a high one.
Engineers optimize drag coefficients for vehicles, aircraft, and buildings: The new model has a drag coefficient of 0.23.
Viscous region near walls
- laminar flowSmooth, parallel fluid motion
- turbulent flowIrregular, swirling fluid dynamics
- viscosityFluid's flow resistance
- wakePath left in water
vortex · eddy · slipstream · Bernoulli's principle · pressure gradient · streamline · incompressible flow
Force opposing atmospheric movement
- retardationSlowing or delay
- terminal velocityMaximum speed during freefall
- parachuteDrag-creating descent device
- airbrakePressure-driven stopping device
Vehicle efficiency rating
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- teardrop shapeRounded end narrowing downward
- boat tailConical projectile rear
- roof spoilerVehicle aerodynamic attachment
Controlled airstream apparatus
- flight testingEvaluating aircraft airborne
- dynamometerForce and power measurer
- data acquisitionCollecting information from sources
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
boundary layer
Viscous region near walls
- laminar flowSmooth, parallel fluid motion
- turbulent flowIrregular, swirling fluid dynamics
- viscosityFluid's flow resistance
wake · vortex · eddy · slipstream · Bernoulli's principle · pressure gradient · streamline · incompressible flow
air resistance
Force opposing atmospheric movement
- retardationSlowing or delay
- terminal velocityMaximum speed during freefall
- parachuteDrag-creating descent device
fuel economy
Vehicle efficiency rating
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- teardrop shapeRounded end narrowing downward
- boat tailConical projectile rear
wind tunnel
Controlled airstream apparatus
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
wind tunnel
Controlled airstream apparatus
- flight testingEvaluating aircraft airborne
- dynamometerForce and power measurer
- data acquisitionCollecting information from sources
- projectile physicstrajectory, projectile motion, launch angle, velocity, gravity
- dragRuPaul, air resistance, wind resistance, tucking, lip sync
- aerodynamicsairflow, lift, turbulence, wind tunnel, airfoil
- ballisticsballistics, bullet, bullet drop, cartridge, trajectory
- fluid dynamicsfluid mechanics, fluid flow, turbulence, fluid motion, streamlines
- coefficients
drag, efficiency, efficient, dragging, sufficient, inefficient, inefficiency, sufficiency, aeronautics