17.3. Wind Tunnel Testing

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is drag force?

   Hint

   Think about the force slowing down an object.

2. 2.

   Define lift force.

   Hint

   It's the force that helps an airplane rise.

3. 3.

   What is the drag coefficient (Cd)?

   • A dimensionless number indicating lift force
   • A dimensionless number indicating drag force
   • A measure of airflow speed

   Hint

   Think about what this term describes in physics.

4. 4.

   True or False: Lower drag coefficients lead to increased drag force.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider what drag represents.

5. 5.

   A car with a frontal area of 2.8 m² and a drag coefficient of 0.35 moves at a speed of 40 m/s. Calculate the drag force experienced by the car.

   Hint

   Plug in the values carefully using the drag equation.

6. 6.

   Discuss the implications of increasing the drag coefficient on vehicle performance.

   Hint

   Consider how drag affects travel efficiency.