Estimate the drag force, in pounds, on a car traveling through air at 55 mph with a coefficient of drag of 0.32 and a frontal area of 25 square feet. Then estimate the horsepower required to maintain that speed.
Drag Force = 1/2 * Cd * Density * Velocity^2 * Area
Power = Force * Velocity
Note the density of air is 1.293 kg/m^3
First we must convert the parameters to a coherent system of units so we can actually use the equations
First convert speed to meters/sec
Then square feet to square meters...
Plug into the equation and get force in Newtons...
Then convert Newtons to pounds force...
Now calculate the horsepower...