Drag (physics)

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/drag-physics

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Fluid Resistance
2. What is the applications?Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic design, automotive efficiency, aeronautics, sports science, biological locomotion
3. What is drag and why does it slow down a ball?Drag is an invisible force that pushes back against objects moving through fluids, like air or water, and it slows them down.
4. How does drag change when something moves faster?At low speeds, drag grows a little with speed. At high speeds, drag grows a lot—doubling the speed can quadruple the drag.

Fluid Dynamics: The study of fluids (liquids and gases) in motion and the forces acting upon them.
Viscosity: A fluid's resistance to flow; a measure of its 'thickness' or internal friction.
Reynolds Number: A dimensionless quantity used to predict flow patterns in fluid dynamics, indicating laminar vs. turbulent flow.