A drag count is a single unit of drag as defined by aerospace engineers. Drag is generally computed using the equation:
Where:
- is the air density
- is the current airspeed
- is the drag coefficient (a dimensionless constant, usually on the order of 0.02 to 0.04 for an aircraft in cruise)
- is the aircraft wing area
A drag count of 1 is equal to of 0.0001. So if, for example, the steady state drag coefficient is 0.0200 and someone sticks a hand out the window adding 5 drag counts, the new drag coefficient would be:
- 0.0200 + 0.0005 = 0.0205 or 205 drag counts.
Drag count is used as a crude measure for the change in drag coefficient (it is not a direct measure of drag as it is associated with a reference area, it is only valid for use as a relative assessment of change).
Famous quotes containing the words drag and/or count:
“Keeping up with the Joneses was a full-time job with my mother and father. It was not until many years later when I lived alone that I realized how much cheaper it was to drag the Joneses down to my level.”
—Quentin Crisp (b. 1908)
““The days have outnumbered
my fingers and toes.
What can I count with now?”
Saying this,
the naive girl cries.”
—Hla Stavhana (c. 50 A.D.)