DISCUSSION (FAIZ IRFAN BIN ROZAHI)

Resulting from the experiment, the drag coefficient values can be calculated after obtaining the
drag force. The drag force is recorded from the experiment. Formula and the data from the
experiment were used to calculate the Reynolds number, Re.

VD
Re 


From the graph drag coefficient, CD Net against Reynolds number, Re for rigid rod object that
has been plotted, it is observed that the highest net drag coefficient CD = 0.2298 occur at Re =
53698.63. At this point the velocity of air act to the body is 10 m/s. But then the drag coefficient
decrease slightly to 0.2250 when the weight and drag force increase. After the drag force drop
down, the value of drag coefficient sometimes is increase and sometimes is decrease.

Taken from the graph, it can be concluded that the drag coefficient CD increase when the
Reynolds number also increasing from small to big numbers. So it means that the value of drag
coefficient is depend on the Reynolds number.

The average drag force obtained from experiment is 0.409 for open end facing upstream and
0.270 for open end facing downstream. Compare to the theoretical value, the drag force for
open end facing upstream is 0.332, while for open end facing downstream is 0.215. The
percentage of error of average drag force for the open end facing upstream is 18.8% then open
end facing downstream is 20.4%. From the percentage of error calculated, it is not much differ
than the theoretical value.

The error due to parallax error occurs in this experiment while taking the reading and also the
systematic error because of apparatus itself such as the air goes out from the hole around the
holder that connected to the drag scale. Also the balancing of the prism body maybe unwell
balanced.
CONCLUSION (FAIZ IRFAN BIN ROZAHI)

In conclusion, the objectives of the experiment achieved. The percentage of error between
theoretical value and experimental value is not much differ. There is no big difference between
velocity and Reynolds number and can be concluded similarly same. The parallax error occur
in this experiment is not the same that’s make the reading become difficult.

The drag coefficient profile on the graph for open end facing upstream flow and open end
facing downstream is differ from each other due to streamlines and bluntness of the air flowing
towards the prism. It is also due to the laminar and turbulent flow that occur during the process
that takes place at different Reynolds number.

From the experiment also it can be concluded that the higher the drag coefficient the higher the
drag force involves. For 103<Re<3×105 the drag coefficient is approximately constant. In this
range the entire rear of the prism has a low pressure turbulent wake and most of the drag is
caused by the front pressure asymmetry.

In summarize, the drag, which contains portions due to friction (viscous) effects and pressure
effects, is written in terms of dimensionless drag coefficients, CD. It also shows that the drag
coefficient, CD, is a function of shape and Reynolds Number, Re.