Question

The drag coefficient of a car at the design conditions of 1 atm, 25°C, and 90 km/h is to be determined experimentally in a large wind tunnel in a full-scale test. The height and width of the car are 1.25 m and 1.65 m, respectively. If the horizontal force acting on the car is measured to be 220 N, determine the total drag coefficient of this car

Answer 1

Answer: 0.288

Explanation:

Given

Pressure of the car, P = 1 atm

Temperature of the car, T = 25° C

Speed of the car, v = 90 km/h = 90*1000/3600 = 25 m/s

Height of the car, h = 1.25 m

Width of the car, b = 1.65 m

Force acting on the far, F = 220 N

Drag coefficient, C(d) = ?

Using our table A-9, we can trace that the density of air ρ, at the given temperature and pressure of 25 °C and 1 atm, is 1.184 kg/m³

Area = h *b

Area = 1.25 * 1.65

Area = 2.0625 m²

Now we solve for the drag coefficient using the formula

C(d) = F / (1/2 * ρ * A * v²)

C(d) = 220 / (0.5 * 1.184 * 2.0625 * 25²)

C(d) = 220 / (1.221 * 625)

C(d) = 220 / 763.125

C(d) = 0.288

Therefore, the drag coefficient is 0.288