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Physics LibreTexts

22: Resistive Forces in Fluids

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In the last chapter we examined the frictional force between solid bodies in direct contact. Another type of resistive force applies to objects moving through a fluid 1 such as air. In such a situation, the resistive force FR is generally found to be proportional to some power of the velocity v of the body:

FRvnWe'll examine two common models of this resistive force: one where n=1, and another where n=2. Examples with n=1 include flow through fine fibrous mats such as furnace filters, and the movement of fog, mist, and dust particles through the atmosphere. Examples with n=2 include most falling objects, parachute flight, and aerodynamic drag on automobiles.


1 A fluid is a substance that flows (a gas or a liquid).


22: Resistive Forces in Fluids is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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