Math & Numbers

Drag Force Calculator (F_D = ½·ρ·v²·C_D·A)

Compute the drag force on a body in a fluid stream: F_D = ½·ρ·v²·C_D·A (N), where ρ is the fluid density, v the free-stream velocity, C_D the drag coefficient (shape- and Reynolds-dependent), and A the reference (frontal projected) area. A built-in shape library supplies typical high-Re C_D values: sphere 0.47, hemisphere 0.42, long cylinder 0.81, disk/flat plate 1.17, cube 1.05, streamlined airfoil 0.04, long streamlined ellipsoid 0.07, cone 0.50; or choose 'Custom' to enter C_D directly. Optionally, with dynamic viscosity μ and characteristic length L, the Reynolds number Re = ρ·v·L/μ is computed, and the power dissipated by drag P = F_D·v (W). Density in kg/m³/g/cm³, velocity in m/s/km/h, area in m²/cm²/mm², length in m/cm/mm.