How do I simplify explanations for the drag formula?
Part 1:
As an aircraft travels faster, drag increases more in thicker air (usually lower to the ground) more than it does in thinner air (usually higher in the atmosphere).
Also, doubling speed quadruples drag.
Part 2:
Force of Drag (self-explanatory) =
Density (the thickness of air or how many molecules there are in a cubic meter) * Velocity^2 (the aircraft’s speed multiplied by its own value)
divide this value by 2
then multiply by Coefficient of Drag (basically, a value that shows how easily an object will slide through the air)
finally, multiply by Area (how much surface is actually in contact with the air. Obviously, a bigger object will interact with more air, increasing drag).
Hope this helps!