Drag Force

Fluid Mechanics · FE Reference Handbook section

Fluid Mechanics

7 formulas

10 exam-style examples

~59 min

All Fluid Mechanics lectures

Learning objectives

What you must be able to do before leaving this section.

This chapter section covers Drag Force within Fluid Mechanics. Read it the way you would read a textbook chapter: the theory first so the relations mean something, then every equation with its use and its trap, then 10 fully worked examples with the arithmetic shown line by line, and finally a self-check you should be able to answer without notes.

Explain, in your own words, what drag force describes physically and when it applies.
State every one of the 7 relations the handbook lists here and name each symbol with its unit.
Select the correct relation from the wording of an exam stem within 20 seconds.
Carry a complete solution from givens to a "most nearly" answer with the correct unit.
Recognise the distractors generated by the unit trap: γ = 62.4 lb/ft³ or 9.81 kN/m³; convert psi to feet of head early.

Lecture

Why this section exists. Drag Force is the part of Fluid Mechanics that lets you connect a pipeline, jet or submerged surface to a number you can defend. Before any equation is useful you must be able to picture the physical situation it describes; the schematic below is that picture.

How the theory is built. The handbook prints results, not derivations. Each relation in this section comes from one governing principle applied to the idealised system: state the principle, impose the stated assumptions, and the printed equation follows. Knowing which assumption each relation rests on is what lets you reject a wrong answer choice in seconds.

How it is examined. Items from this page are written as continuity plus energy, with one head-loss or force term. Roughly two thirds are direct substitution, one third require one intermediate quantity from a neighbouring relation, and a small number are conceptual — testing whether you know the assumption, not the arithmetic.

The habit that earns the points. Unit discipline. γ = 62.4 lb/ft³ or 9.81 kN/m³; convert psi to feet of head early. Every relation below is dimensionally consistent only when that rule is honoured, and the distractor set is deliberately built from candidates who ignored it. Write the unit next to every number you substitute, every time.

How to study this page. Read the theory, then cover the formula cards and try to reproduce each relation from its description. Then work the examples with the solution hidden, revealing one line at a time. Finish with the self-check questions; if you cannot answer one, return to the matching formula card.

Crane lowering a steel plate girder onto bridge bearings while ironworkers guide it. — Photo 1. Where this shows up in practice: drag force.
Capstone Studio instructional photograph

Fluid Mechanics — Drag Force: reference schematic for orienting the symbols used in this section.

Theory, developed

Read this before the equations — it is what makes them memorable.

The physical situation

Every item from this section describes a pipeline, jet or submerged surface. Sketch it before you compute — a labelled sketch with the givens on it converts a wordy stem into a solvable problem and exposes the quantity the examiner left out on purpose.

The governing principle

The 7 relations on this page are consequences of one principle applied to that idealised system. Identify which quantity is conserved, balanced, or defined, and the correct equation follows without memorisation.

Assumptions and limits of validity

Each printed relation carries silent assumptions — linearity, steady state, uniformity, small deformation, or standard conditions, depending on the subject. Conceptual exam items are written by violating exactly one of these, so read the sentence above the equation as carefully as the equation itself.

Solution procedure you should automate

1) Read the last sentence of the stem to identify the requested quantity. 2) Locate the relation on this page whose left-hand side is that quantity. 3) Tabulate the givens with units and mark the missing symbol. 4) If a symbol is missing, find the one relation that produces it. 5) Rearrange symbolically, substitute once, evaluate, and round only at the end.

Notation used in this section

FD	Quantity produced by "FD = 2" — read its definition and unit from the handbook line directly above the equation.
CD	Quantity produced by "CD = drag coefficient" — read its definition and unit from the handbook line directly above the equation.
v	Quantity produced by "v = velocity (m/s) of the flowing fluid or moving object" — read its definition and unit from the handbook line directly above the equation.
A	Quantity produced by "A = projected area (m2) of blunt objects such as spheres, ellipsoids, disks, and plates, cylinders, ellipses, and" — read its definition and unit from the handbook line directly above the equation.
ρ	Quantity produced by "ρ = fluid density" — read its definition and unit from the handbook line directly above the equation.

Handbook notes for this section

Definitions and conditions exactly as the handbook states them.

The drag force FD on objects immersed in a large body of flowing fluid or objects moving through a stagnant fluid is
CD ρv 2 A
where
air foils with axes perpendicular to the flow
For flat plates placed parallel with the flow:
The characteristic length in the Reynolds Number (Re) is the length of the plate parallel with the flow. For blunt objects, the
characteristic length is the largest linear dimension (diameter of cylinder, sphere, disk, etc.) that is perpendicular to the flow.

Core formulas for this FE topic

Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.

Worked exam-style examples

The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.

Example 1

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force

A structure of frontal area 10.0 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.45 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 21 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.45
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 21 m/s
A = 10.0 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.45) (1.2) (21)^{2} (10.0)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 1, 191 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 1, 191 (21) = 25, 005 W = 25.00 k W$

Answer: F_D = 1,191 N, P = 25.00 kW

Why the other options are there

2,381 N (½ omitted)
57 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 2

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (2)

A structure of frontal area 3.0 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.75 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 45 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.75
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 45 m/s
A = 3.0 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.75) (1.2) (45)^{2} (3.0)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 2, 734 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 2, 734 (45) = 123, 019 W = 123.0 k W$

Answer: F_D = 2,734 N, P = 123.0 kW

Why the other options are there

5,467 N (½ omitted)
61 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 3

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (3)

A structure of frontal area 4.0 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.60 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 36 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.60
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 36 m/s
A = 4.0 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.60) (1.2) (36)^{2} (4.0)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 1, 866 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 1, 866 (36) = 67, 185 W = 67.18 k W$

Answer: F_D = 1,866 N, P = 67.18 kW

Why the other options are there

3,732 N (½ omitted)
52 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 4

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (4)

A structure of frontal area 5.5 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.55 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 17 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.55
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 17 m/s
A = 5.5 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.55) (1.2) (17)^{2} (5.5)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 524.5 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 524.5 (17) = 8, 917 W = 8.92 k W$

Answer: F_D = 524.5 N, P = 8.92 kW

Why the other options are there

1,049 N (½ omitted)
31 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 5

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (5)

A structure of frontal area 1.0 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.45 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 24 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.45
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 24 m/s
A = 1.0 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.45) (1.2) (24)^{2} (1.0)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 155.5 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 155.5 (24) = 3, 732 W = 3.73 k W$

Answer: F_D = 155.5 N, P = 3.73 kW

Why the other options are there

311.0 N (½ omitted)
6 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 6

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (6)

A structure of frontal area 8.0 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.80 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 13 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.80
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 13 m/s
A = 8.0 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.80) (1.2) (13)^{2} (8.0)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 649.0 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 649.0 (13) = 8, 436 W = 8.44 k W$

Answer: F_D = 649.0 N, P = 8.44 kW

Why the other options are there

1,298 N (½ omitted)
50 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 7

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (7)

A structure of frontal area 10.5 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.50 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 40 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.50
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 40 m/s
A = 10.5 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.50) (1.2) (40)^{2} (10.5)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 5, 040 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 5, 040 (40) = 201, 600 W = 201.6 k W$

Answer: F_D = 5,040 N, P = 201.6 kW

Why the other options are there

10,080 N (½ omitted)
126.0 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 8

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (8)

A structure of frontal area 9.0 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.95 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 21 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.95
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 21 m/s
A = 9.0 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.95) (1.2) (21)^{2} (9.0)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 2, 262 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 2, 262 (21) = 47, 509 W = 47.51 k W$

Answer: F_D = 2,262 N, P = 47.51 kW

Why the other options are there

4,525 N (½ omitted)
107.7 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 9

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (9)

A structure of frontal area 10.5 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 0.80 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 37 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 0.80
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 37 m/s
A = 10.5 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (0.80) (1.2) (37)^{2} (10.5)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 6, 900 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 6, 900 (37) = 255, 291 W = 255.3 k W$

Answer: F_D = 6,900 N, P = 255.3 kW

Why the other options are there

13,800 N (½ omitted)
186.5 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Example 10

Drag force and power required to overcome it — Drag Force (10)

A structure of frontal area 9.0 m² with drag coefficient C_D = 1.40 is exposed to air (ρ = 1.2 kg/m³) moving at 39 m/s. Compute the drag force and the power dissipated in overcoming it.

Given

C_D = 1.40
ρ = 1.2 kg/m³
V = 39 m/s
A = 9.0 m²

Find

Drag force and the associated power

Start with the thinking

Drag varies with the square of velocity, so power varies with the cube.
The area used is the projected frontal area, not the total surface area.

Step-by-step solution

Formula
$F_{D} = ½ C_{D} ρ V^{2} A$
Substituting
$F_{D} = ½ (1.40) (1.2) (39)^{2} (9.0)$
Evaluate
$F_{D} = 11, 499 N$
Formula
$P = F_{D} V$
Substituting
$P = 11, 499 (39) = 448, 452 W = 448.5 k W$

Answer: F_D = 11,499 N, P = 448.5 kW

Why the other options are there

22,998 N (½ omitted)
294.8 N (velocity not squared)

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Fluid Mechanics → Drag Force

Self-check

Answer these without notes before moving on.

Without looking, state the relation on this page whose left-hand side is the quantity most often requested, and name every symbol in it.
Which assumption, if violated, makes the main relation of this section invalid?
Given a pipeline, jet or submerged surface, what is the first quantity you would compute, and why that one first?
Which unit conversion in this subject most often produces a wrong answer choice, and what is its numerical factor?
Rework Example 1 above from the givens alone, without reading the solution lines.

Chapter summary

Drag Force contains 7 relations; you must be able to find this page in under 15 seconds.
Exam style: continuity plus energy, with one head-loss or force term.
Unit rule: γ = 62.4 lb/ft³ or 9.81 kN/m³; convert psi to feet of head early.
Work the 10 examples until the solution path, not the answer, is automatic.

Common traps in this section

γ = 62.4 lb/ft³ or 9.81 kN/m³; convert psi to feet of head early
Answering the intermediate quantity instead of the quantity requested.
Rounding intermediate values before the final step.
Using a relation from an adjacent handbook section that shares a symbol.
Skipping the sketch — most lost points on this page start with a misread geometry.

Drag Force

Learning objectives

Lecture

Theory, developed

Notation used in this section

Handbook notes for this section

Core formulas for this FE topic

FD=2

CD=dragcoefficient

v=velocity(m/s)oftheflowingfluidormovingobject

A=projectedarea(m2​)ofbluntobjectssuchasspheres,ellipsoids,disks,andplates,cylinders,ellipses,and

ρ=fluiddensity

CD=1.33/Re0.5(104<Re<5×105)

CD=0.031/Re1​/7(106<Re<109)

Worked exam-style examples

Self-check

Chapter summary

Common traps in this section