wave drag
Noun
Meaning
wave drag (uncountable)
(aerodynamics) Drag resulting from shock wave formation at transonic and supersonic speeds.
Examples
It was later realized that the drag could be reduced much more by lengthening the hump, using it to reduce wave drag offsetting the tail surface's contribution.
The area rule was discovered by Otto Frenzl when comparing a swept wing with a w-wing with extreme high wave drag citation.
Cross-sectional area distribution along the body determines wave drag, largely independent of the actual shape.