A Summary Of The Physics Of Drag (Wind Resistance)
This is a written explanation of the basic principles of air resistance, or "drag". Drag is the force applied by a gas in opposition to an object's motion through said gas. Air resistance was first observed by Galileo Galilee, when, in 1590, he dropped several spheres of equal sizes and shapes but different densities off of the leaning tower of Pisa, in Italy. Previous to his experiments, it was commonly believed that objects fell at speeds proportional to their weights. This was disproved when Galileo observed that two balls of equal size and shape but unequal mass, when dropped at the same time, would hit the ground at the same time. He also noticed that two objects of equal mass but unequal shapes would NOT hit the ground at the same time. In other words, he observed that an objects speed through the air was dependent upon its shape, not it's weight. From this he concluded that there must be some force opposing them as they moved through the air – Air resistance. Fluid Dynamics is the study of the laws governing fluids (non-solids). Aerodynamics is the physics of non-fluids (solids) moving through gaseous flui
In conclusion, air resistance affects us every day in a variety of ways. According to Bicycle magazine; when I ride my bike across level ground, roughly 80 percent of the force I have to apply to remain at a constant velocity is force to counteract the force of air resistance. No wonder road-bikers look so funny… o Induced Drag is also called drag due to lift, and only affects airplane wings. The difference in pressure above and below a wing causes air to flow in opposite lateral directions, forming eddies behind the wing tips. ds. Finally, Air resistance falls within Aerodynamics as being the specific study of the forces opposing an objects motion through a gas. In the terms of the field, air resistance is referred to as "Drag". That is the term I will be using throughout this paper. o Friction Drag is the friction produced as an object moves through the air. It occurs next to the surface of an object. As the object moves through the air a thin layer of air forms around the surface of the object; this is known as the Boundary Layer. Friction results when one fluid moves over another – in this case, fricti
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Induced Drag,
Fd=KV2 Fd,
Italy Previous,
Finally Air,
Form Drag,
According Bicycle,
Friction Drag,
,
Layer Friction,
Fluid Dynamics,
air resistance,
friction drag,
form drag,
object moves,
induced drag,
object moves air,
force drag,
moves air,
friction drag form,
produced object,
drag velocity,
hit ground,
drag form drag,
cross sectional object,
force drag velocity,
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Approximate Word count = 756
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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