Free Drag Force Calculator

Compute the aerodynamic drag force on a body from its drag coefficient, air density, velocity, and reference area.

kg/m³
m/s

Drag Force (D)

2,940.00 N

Power Required to Overcome Drag235.20 kW

Drag Force (D) vs Drag Coefficient (CD)

Aerodynamic Drag Force

Drag is the resistive force opposing an object moving through a fluid. It depends on the shape (captured by CD), the flight condition, and the size of the body.

Formula

D = CD × 0.5 × rho × V² × S

The power needed to sustain flight against this drag is P = D × V. Minimizing drag is a central goal in aerospace and automotive design because it directly reduces fuel burn.

Example Calculation

An aircraft wing with CD = 0.03, area 25 m², flying at 80 m/s in sea-level air.

  1. 01Dynamic pressure q = 0.5 × 1.225 × 80² = 3920 Pa
  2. 02Drag = 0.03 × 3920 × 25 = 2940 N
  3. 03Power = 2940 × 80 / 1000 = 235.2 kW

Frequently Asked Questions

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