Drag Force Calculator
🧱 Forces & Newton’s laws. Use the Drag force formula to find drag force, air density, speed, drag coefficient, area: pick the value you want, type the others, and the answer updates as you go.
Pick the ○ next to the value you want to find, fill in the others, and it solves as you type.
What each letter means
| Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|
| Drag force | N |
| Air density | kg/m³ |
| Speed | m/s |
| Drag coefficient | no unit |
| Area | m² |
Worked example
Find the drag force when Air density = 1.225 kg/m³, Speed = 20 m/s, Drag coefficient = 1, Area = 1 m².
Using Fd = 1/2 ρ v² Cd A: Drag force = 245 N.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for Drag force?
Fd = 1/2 ρ v² Cd A.
What do the letters stand for, and what units are used?
Drag force in N, Air density in kg/m³, Speed in m/s, Drag coefficient, Area in m².
How do you calculate drag force?
Put the values into Fd = 1/2 ρ v² Cd A. For example, with Air density = 1.225 kg/m³, Speed = 20 m/s, Drag coefficient = 1, Area = 1 m², drag force = 245 N.
Can I solve for a different value?
Yes. In the calculator above, pick the circle next to any value (drag force, air density, speed, drag coefficient, area) and fill in the others: it rearranges the formula for you.
