Dynamic pressure () is a term in aerodynamics that represents the kinetic energy per unit volume of a fluid due to its motion. As an aircraft’s speed increases, the dynamic pressure on its surfaces also increases. In terms of the Mach number (), which is the ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium, dynamic pressure can be expressed as:
Where:
- : Dynamic pressure (Pascal).
- : Ratio of specific heats
- : Air density (kg/m3).
- : Mach number.
- T: Temperature (Kelvin)
- R: Specific gas constant (J/(kg·K)