The drag force depends on the square of the velocity. So as the body accelerates its velocity and the drag increase. It quickly reaches a point where
the drag is exactly equal to the weight
. When drag is equal to weight, there is no net external force on the object, and the acceleration becomes zero.
Does drag force depend on weight?
The heavier the weight
, the faster the speed of the object (due to gravity), which will lead to the object colliding into more air molecules per second and therefore making the magnitude of the drag force on the object slightly bigger.
What happens when drag is bigger than weight?
If lift becomes greater than weight, then the plane will accelerate upward. If the weight is greater than the lift, then the plane will accelerate downward. When the thrust becomes greater than the drag,
the plane will accelerate forward
. If drag becomes greater than the thrust a deceleration will occur.
How is drag calculated?
The drag equation states that drag D is
equal to the drag coefficient Cd times the density r times half of the velocity V squared times the reference area A
. For given air conditions, shape, and inclination of the object, we must determine a value for Cd to determine drag.
Can drag force exceed gravity?
As drag increases, acceleration decreases. …
The upward drag force now exceeds the downward pull of gravity
. The net force and acceleration are directed upward. Note: this does not mean the skydiver is moving upward.
Can drag be greater than weight?
It will decelerate,
yes
. If the vector force exceed the vector force of the weight. Note that both will increase as altitude decreases. If the drag exceeds the weight and speed becomes 0, then the velocity will become negative.
What force counteracts drag?
Thrust
works opposite of drag. When the forces are balanced, a plane flies in a level direction.
How do you force drag?
For larger objects (such as a baseball) moving at a velocity v in air, the drag force is given by
FD=12CρAv2 F D = 1 2 C ρ A v 2
, where C is the drag coefficient (typical values are given in Table 1), A is the area of the object facing the fluid, and ρ is the fluid density.
What is minimum drag speed?
For level flight Lift
= Weight
, so the required lift at the various airspeeds should be constant. The speed at which minimum drag occurs is the same as the point at which max L/D or minimum D/L occurs.
How do you reduce drag?
Engineers reduce friction drag by
making the airplane more streamlined
, the wings narrower, or by using new materials that make the surface more smooth, decreasing the ability for the force of drag to effect it. As the roughness and surface area of the airplane decreases the friction drag will decrease.
Does drag slow you down?
An airplane has drag when it flies through the air.
Drag makes the plane go slower
. When you run, your legs have to move fast to make you run forward. The engine in airplanes makes planes go forward.
What factors affect drag force?
Drag depends directly on
the mass of the flow going past the aircraft
. The drag also depends in a complex way on two other properties of the air: its viscosity and its compressibility. These factors affect the wave drag and skin friction which are described above.
Is drag proportional to velocity?
Drag force is
proportional to the velocity for low-speed flow and the squared velocity for high speed flow
, where the distinction between low and high speed is measured by the Reynolds number. Even though the ultimate cause of a drag is viscous friction, the turbulent drag is independent of viscosity.
What happens if drag is greater than thrust?
As long as the thrust continues to be greater than the drag,
the aircraft continues to accelerate
. When drag equals thrust, the aircraft flies at a constant airspeed.
Why is drag equal to thrust?
In level flight, lift equals weight and thrust equals drag
when the plane flies at constant velocity
. … If the weight is greater than the lift, then the plane will accelerate downward. When the thrust becomes greater than the drag, the plane will accelerate forward.
What happens when thrust is stronger than drag?
As long as the thrust continues to be greater than the drag,
the aircraft continues to accelerate
. When drag equals thrust, the aircraft flies at a constant airspeed.
