Drag Equation Calculator Drag Force Calculator

This calculator computes the drag force on an object moving through a fluid using the drag equation.

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Calculation Formula

FD = 0.5 × ρ × v² × Cd × A

Where:
FD = Drag Force (N)
ρ = Fluid density (kg/m³)
v = Velocity (m/s)
Cd = Drag Coefficient
A = Reference Area (m²)

Result

Drag Force (FD): 0.00 N

Resultant Pressure (PD): 0.00 Pa

Resultant Pressure Coefficient (CP): 0.00

Drag Equation Calculator Drag Force Calculator Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the calculator and understand the drag equation principles

Calculator Usage Guide

  1. Enter the velocity of the object relative to the fluid (m/s)
  2. Enter the drag coefficient (Cd) of the object. This value depends on the shape of the object and the flow conditions. For a smooth sphere at low Reynolds numbers, it's approximately 0.47.
  3. Enter the reference area (A), which is typically the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of motion.
  4. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the drag force, resultant pressure, and pressure coefficient.
  5. Click "Reset" to clear all input fields and start over.

Understanding the Drag Equation

The drag force (FD) is calculated using the following formula:

FD = 0.5 × ρ × v² × Cd × A

Where:

  • FD = Drag Force (Newtons, N)
  • ρ = Fluid density (kg/m³) - Default value is for air at sea level (1.225 kg/m³)
  • v = Velocity (meters per second, m/s)
  • Cd = Drag Coefficient (dimensionless)
  • A = Reference Area (square meters, m²)

Practical Applications

This calculator is useful in various fields including:

  • Aerospace engineering for aircraft and spacecraft design
  • Automotive engineering for vehicle aerodynamics
  • Fluid dynamics for analyzing flow around objects
  • Sports science for analyzing the aerodynamics of sports equipment