Depending on what you want the number for, I'd just start by estimating the terminal velocity of people on water slides similar to what you have in mind. Just watch a few videos an estimate their velocity versus time as they start down the slide, and then reach terminal velocity before the bottom section...Uricucu said:Does anyone know what drag coefficient has a person in a water slide?
Oh, I like that. Much more practical and helpful than my reply.berkeman said:Just watch a few videos an estimate their velocity versus time as they start down the slide, and then reach terminal velocity before the bottom section...
I'd assume zero. It's probably not far from true and is the safest value you can assume.Uricucu said:Hi! Does anyone know what drag coefficient has a person in a water slide? I've only found for full vertical/horizontal body, but not for a person in a water slide, considering it has a slope. Related to that, the cross area of a person can be calculated?
anorlunda said:That is a difficult question. People come in all shapes and sizes. They can sit or bend their bodies in many ways. I think the best you can hope for is a range of values and the extremes of the range may be the same as the full vertical/horizontal body that you already found.
I would try to contact the engineers who designed existing water slides, rather than asking general questions on the Internet.
berkeman said:Depending on what you want the number for, I'd just start by estimating the terminal velocity of people on water slides similar to what you have in mind. Just watch a few videos an estimate their velocity versus time as they start down the slide, and then reach terminal velocity before the bottom section...
The drag coefficient of a person on a slide is a measure of the resistance that the person experiences while sliding down the slide. It is influenced by factors such as the person's size, shape, and speed.
The drag coefficient of a person on a slide is calculated by dividing the drag force acting on the person by the product of the air density, the person's frontal area, and the square of their velocity.
The average drag coefficient of a person on a slide can vary depending on the specific slide and person, but it is typically around 1.2-1.5. This means that the drag force acting on the person is 1.2-1.5 times greater than their weight.
The higher the drag coefficient of a person on a slide, the more resistance they will experience and the slower their speed will be. This is why smaller, more aerodynamic people tend to slide faster than larger, less aerodynamic people.
Yes, the drag coefficient of a person on a slide can be reduced by changing their body position to be more streamlined, or by using materials that reduce friction on the slide. However, it is important to always follow safety guidelines and not compromise safety for the sake of reducing drag coefficient.