Total Drag – The resultant force that opposes the motion of an object through a fluid medium, which is the sum of parasite drag and induced drag.
Total drag refers to the combined drag forces acting on an object that is moving through a fluid medium, such as air or water. In fluid dynamics, drag is the force that resists the motion of an object, acting in the opposite direction to the object’s motion.
Parasite drag refers to the drag force that is generated by the friction between the surface of the object and the fluid medium it is moving through. This type of drag is dependent on the surface area of the object and the smoothness of its surface. Objects with rough or irregular surfaces will experience more parasite drag than objects with smooth surfaces.
Induced drag is the drag force that is generated by the production of lift by the object. Lift is the force that allows an object to overcome the force of gravity and stay airborne. When an object generates lift, it also generates induced drag, which is dependent on the amount of lift being produced and the shape of the object.
By combining parasite and induced drag, we get the total drag acting on the object. Total drag is an important factor to consider in the design of aerodynamic structures, such as aircraft and missiles. Reducing total drag can improve the efficiency and performance of these structures, allowing them to travel faster, farther, and more efficiently through the fluid medium.
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