ME 550 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering

Problem Sheet – 3: Lift and Drag

17. The drag coefficient of a vehicle increases when its windows are rolled down or its sunroof is
opened (Fig. P17). A sports car has a frontal area of 1.672 m2 and a drag coefficient of 0.32
when the windows and sunroofs are closed. The drag coefficient increases to 0.41 when the
sunroof is open. Determine the additional power consumption of the car when the sunroof is
opened at 35 miles/h. Take density of air to be 1.2 kg/m3. [0.343 kW]

Fig. P17 Fig. P18

18. Two bicycle racers ride 30 km/h through still air (Fig. P18). By what percentage is the power
required to overcome aerodynamic drag for the second cyclist reduced if she/he drafts
closely behind the first cyclist rather than riding along side her/him? Neglect any forces other
than aerodynamic drag. Take CD=0.9 for the non-drafted body, and CD=0.5 for the drafted
body. [44.4 % decrease]
19. A commercial airplane has a total mass of 70,000 kg and a wing planform area of 150 m2.
The plane has a cruising speed of 558 kmph and a cruising altitude of 12,000 m, where the
air density is 0.312 kg/m3. The plane has double-slotted flaps for use during takeoff and
landing, but it cruises with all flaps retracted. Assuming the lift and drag characteristics of the
wings to be approximated by NACA 23012 (Fig. P19), determine (a) the minimum safe speed
(=1.2 times Vmin) for takeoff and landing with and without extending the flaps, (b) the angle
of attack to cruise steadily at the cruising altitude, and (c) the power that needs to be supplied
to provide enough thrust to overcome wing drag. Take sea-level air density to be 1.2 kg/m3.
[85.1 m/s, 56.2 m/s, 10o, 2620 kW]

Fig. P19
20. Consider an airplane whose takeoff speed is 220 kmph and that takes 15 sec to takeoff at sea
level. For an airport at an elevation of 1600 m (such as Denver, Colorado), determine (a) the
takeoff speed, (b) the takeoff time, and (c) the additional runway length required for this
airplane. Assume constant acceleration for both cases. Assume air density at sea level =
1.225 kg/m3, and air density at 1600 m altitude = 1.048 kg/m3. [238 km/hr, 16.2 s, 77 m]