The discussion revolves around determining the drag coefficient of a person on a water slide, considering the slope of the slide and the variability in body positions. Participants also explore how to estimate the cross-sectional area of a person in this context.
Participants generally agree that determining a precise drag coefficient is challenging and that a range of values may be necessary. However, there is no consensus on what that range might be or the best method to estimate it.
The discussion highlights limitations in available data and the need for empirical observation, as well as the dependence on individual body shapes and positions, which complicates the estimation of drag coefficients.
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...