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Q:
Can you explain separation point and pressure drag? What is the relationship between them?
A:
The separation point is the point where the air stops "sticking" to an object that is moving through the air. When an object is moving through the air, the air molecules push back on it and resist the object's movement - this resistance is called pressure drag. As the air flows around the object, it "sticks" to the object, forming what is known as the boundary layer. This "attached flow" is flowing very smoothly. The point on the body where the boundary layer lifts off the surface is called the separation point. When the air flow separates off the surface, the pressure drag usually increases.
Posted on October 20, 2013 at 10:34 am
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