Can drag force and lift force be in the same direction here:

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the relationship between lift and drag forces acting on a particle in a fluid. It is established that lift can be directed in the Y-direction, while drag typically acts at an angle to the vertical, influenced by the particle's motion and the flow direction. The equation of motion proposed includes both forces, with drag being resolved into its vertical component. The conversation highlights that while lift and drag are conventionally defined as perpendicular, they can both have positive Y-components depending on the reference frame used. Ultimately, the resolution of forces can be adapted based on the specific context of the motion being analyzed.
Roul
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In the attached picture, can I say that there is a lift force in the Y-direction, and a drag force too in the same Y-direction?

FL proportional to V_fx2 ?

FD proportional to V_py2 ?

Is this equation of motion for the Y-direction correct here: ma = − mg − FD + V(rho)g + FL

The lift force is because of the horizontal flow which is in fact lifting the particle (lets assume there is some small velocity gradient around the particle, as the particle bottom experiences zero flow velocity and particle top experiences the flow velocity), and the drag force is due to the resistance to the particle's upward motion. Is this correct to say?

Please assume that the picture is correct, and such an observation was made.

Edit: Just added the image.
https://imgur.com/x099TgP

https://imgur.com/x099TgP

https://imgur.com/x099TgP
 
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Roul said:
can I say that there is a lift force in the Y-direction, and a drag force too in the same Y-direction?
Lift and drag are perpendicular to each other, but can both have a positive Y-component.
 
A.T. said:
Lift and drag are perpendicular to each other, but can both have a positive Y-component.

So the lift force will be in the Y-direction, but the drag force will be at an angle (say theta) to the vertical direction, in between the horizontal flow velocity and the vertical particle velocity. So in my equation can I use FL and FDcos(theta) and rest will be the same, right?
 
Roul said:
So the lift force will be in the Y-direction, but the drag force will be at an angle (say theta) to the vertical direction,
Lift and drag components are perpendicular to each other per definition. Their orientation depends on what you consider as the reference flow direction.
 
+1

Air flowing past an object exerts a force F acting on the object. You can resolve that force F into two components acting in any direction you want - provided the vector sum equals F. It's conventional to resolve it into two forces one acting perpendicular to the flow (lift) and one parallel to the flow (drag) but there is nothing that says you must do it that way.

For example consider a glider soaring in air flowing up a hill. You could define lift as the component acting perpendicular to the air flow or in a direction that opposes gravity. Depends what you are interested in.
 
In aeronautical engineering, lift is the aerodynamic force perpendicular to the relative wind, whereas in everyday vernacular, the term lift applies to any force that points up.
 
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