Dynamic Pressure Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the dynamic pressure calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Dynamic Pressure (q)
q = 0.5 * density * pow(velocity, 2)Dynamic Pressure
q_kpa = 0.5 * density * pow(velocity, 2) / 1000Variables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
density | Fluid Density (rho)(kg/m³) | 1.225 |
velocity | Velocity (V)(m/s) | 100 |
How It Works
Dynamic Pressure
Dynamic pressure represents the kinetic energy per unit volume of a flowing fluid. It is the key scaling parameter for aerodynamic forces.
Formula
q = 0.5 × rho × V²
where rho is the fluid density and V is the freestream velocity. All aerodynamic forces (lift, drag) are proportional to dynamic pressure, which is why it appears in every force coefficient definition.
Worked Example
Air at sea-level standard density flowing at 100 m/s.
density = 1.225velocity = 100
- 01q = 0.5 × 1.225 × 100²
- 02q = 0.5 × 1.225 × 10000
- 03q = 6125 Pa = 6.125 kPa
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Dynamic Pressure Calculator