The angle of attack for a flat plate is the angle between a reference line on the plate (often the chord line) and the vector representing the relative motion between the plate and the fluid through which it is moving. The angle of attack determines how much the plate deflects or bends the fluid flow around it, creating a difference in pressure between the upper and lower surfaces of the plate. This pressure difference results in a net force on the plate, which is called lift.
- Angle of attack (𝛼) in rad
- Zero lift drag coefficient (cd,0)