What does “develop a drag” mean in this context?





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“Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus series has a fault, it's a slight list to the tail end — you often find they develop a drag after a few years. They've updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows — a pity they've stopped making them. I learned to fly on one, and a very fine old broom it was too…”




I'm not sure what "a drag" is supposed to mean here. The context is talking about the broomsticks they flew on. I've looked up the word 'drag' in dictionaries, but I don't know which one is fit for the context.










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    “Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus series has a fault, it's a slight list to the tail end — you often find they develop a drag after a few years. They've updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows — a pity they've stopped making them. I learned to fly on one, and a very fine old broom it was too…”




    I'm not sure what "a drag" is supposed to mean here. The context is talking about the broomsticks they flew on. I've looked up the word 'drag' in dictionaries, but I don't know which one is fit for the context.










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      1
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      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite












      “Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus series has a fault, it's a slight list to the tail end — you often find they develop a drag after a few years. They've updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows — a pity they've stopped making them. I learned to fly on one, and a very fine old broom it was too…”




      I'm not sure what "a drag" is supposed to mean here. The context is talking about the broomsticks they flew on. I've looked up the word 'drag' in dictionaries, but I don't know which one is fit for the context.










      share|improve this question














      “Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus series has a fault, it's a slight list to the tail end — you often find they develop a drag after a few years. They've updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows — a pity they've stopped making them. I learned to fly on one, and a very fine old broom it was too…”




      I'm not sure what "a drag" is supposed to mean here. The context is talking about the broomsticks they flew on. I've looked up the word 'drag' in dictionaries, but I don't know which one is fit for the context.







      word-meaning phrase-meaning






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      asked 1 hour ago









      dan

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          2 Answers
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          The correct definition is this one:




          physics: the retarding force acting on a body (such as an airplane) moving through a fluid (such as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion
          Merriam-Webster




          Yeah, that's hard to understand. It's roughly synonymous with "air resistance" (or "water resistance" if traveling through water, etc.). Drag is what makes a parachute slow down when falling, for example.



          An image makes it a little clearer:







          In other words, after a few years brooms slow down because they are experiencing increased air resistance (I've always thought that this was because the bristles get bent and stick out).






          share|improve this answer





















          • So, it could be because "it's a slight list to the tail end", right?
            – dan
            1 hour ago






          • 1




            @dan From the way it's written it sounds like that's something that's there from the start. Also, I'm not sure if it would even cause drag: a "list" here means the broom is steering more to one direction than the other when it should be going straight.
            – Laurel
            1 hour ago










          • @dan it's a little silly to look for precise explanations of the physics of magical flying brooms. Some things we have to just take on faith. :)
            – Andrew
            11 mins ago


















          up vote
          1
          down vote













          I knew you were referring to the movement version of the word "drag" so with that in mind, I found this:



          Merriam Webster



          2) Drag (noun): motion effected with slowness or difficulty
          also : the condition of having or seeming to have such motion. Merriam



          However, since you're referring to a flying broom, to be accurate, I looked up the aerodynamic definition of the word "drag".



          NASA (with some edits):



          Drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air (in this case, the "aircraft" happens to be a broom). Drag is generated by every part of the broom (even a listing, tail end!).



          I hope that helps.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.


















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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            4
            down vote













            The correct definition is this one:




            physics: the retarding force acting on a body (such as an airplane) moving through a fluid (such as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion
            Merriam-Webster




            Yeah, that's hard to understand. It's roughly synonymous with "air resistance" (or "water resistance" if traveling through water, etc.). Drag is what makes a parachute slow down when falling, for example.



            An image makes it a little clearer:







            In other words, after a few years brooms slow down because they are experiencing increased air resistance (I've always thought that this was because the bristles get bent and stick out).






            share|improve this answer





















            • So, it could be because "it's a slight list to the tail end", right?
              – dan
              1 hour ago






            • 1




              @dan From the way it's written it sounds like that's something that's there from the start. Also, I'm not sure if it would even cause drag: a "list" here means the broom is steering more to one direction than the other when it should be going straight.
              – Laurel
              1 hour ago










            • @dan it's a little silly to look for precise explanations of the physics of magical flying brooms. Some things we have to just take on faith. :)
              – Andrew
              11 mins ago















            up vote
            4
            down vote













            The correct definition is this one:




            physics: the retarding force acting on a body (such as an airplane) moving through a fluid (such as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion
            Merriam-Webster




            Yeah, that's hard to understand. It's roughly synonymous with "air resistance" (or "water resistance" if traveling through water, etc.). Drag is what makes a parachute slow down when falling, for example.



            An image makes it a little clearer:







            In other words, after a few years brooms slow down because they are experiencing increased air resistance (I've always thought that this was because the bristles get bent and stick out).






            share|improve this answer





















            • So, it could be because "it's a slight list to the tail end", right?
              – dan
              1 hour ago






            • 1




              @dan From the way it's written it sounds like that's something that's there from the start. Also, I'm not sure if it would even cause drag: a "list" here means the broom is steering more to one direction than the other when it should be going straight.
              – Laurel
              1 hour ago










            • @dan it's a little silly to look for precise explanations of the physics of magical flying brooms. Some things we have to just take on faith. :)
              – Andrew
              11 mins ago













            up vote
            4
            down vote










            up vote
            4
            down vote









            The correct definition is this one:




            physics: the retarding force acting on a body (such as an airplane) moving through a fluid (such as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion
            Merriam-Webster




            Yeah, that's hard to understand. It's roughly synonymous with "air resistance" (or "water resistance" if traveling through water, etc.). Drag is what makes a parachute slow down when falling, for example.



            An image makes it a little clearer:







            In other words, after a few years brooms slow down because they are experiencing increased air resistance (I've always thought that this was because the bristles get bent and stick out).






            share|improve this answer












            The correct definition is this one:




            physics: the retarding force acting on a body (such as an airplane) moving through a fluid (such as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion
            Merriam-Webster




            Yeah, that's hard to understand. It's roughly synonymous with "air resistance" (or "water resistance" if traveling through water, etc.). Drag is what makes a parachute slow down when falling, for example.



            An image makes it a little clearer:







            In other words, after a few years brooms slow down because they are experiencing increased air resistance (I've always thought that this was because the bristles get bent and stick out).







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            Laurel

            4,3581126




            4,3581126












            • So, it could be because "it's a slight list to the tail end", right?
              – dan
              1 hour ago






            • 1




              @dan From the way it's written it sounds like that's something that's there from the start. Also, I'm not sure if it would even cause drag: a "list" here means the broom is steering more to one direction than the other when it should be going straight.
              – Laurel
              1 hour ago










            • @dan it's a little silly to look for precise explanations of the physics of magical flying brooms. Some things we have to just take on faith. :)
              – Andrew
              11 mins ago


















            • So, it could be because "it's a slight list to the tail end", right?
              – dan
              1 hour ago






            • 1




              @dan From the way it's written it sounds like that's something that's there from the start. Also, I'm not sure if it would even cause drag: a "list" here means the broom is steering more to one direction than the other when it should be going straight.
              – Laurel
              1 hour ago










            • @dan it's a little silly to look for precise explanations of the physics of magical flying brooms. Some things we have to just take on faith. :)
              – Andrew
              11 mins ago
















            So, it could be because "it's a slight list to the tail end", right?
            – dan
            1 hour ago




            So, it could be because "it's a slight list to the tail end", right?
            – dan
            1 hour ago




            1




            1




            @dan From the way it's written it sounds like that's something that's there from the start. Also, I'm not sure if it would even cause drag: a "list" here means the broom is steering more to one direction than the other when it should be going straight.
            – Laurel
            1 hour ago




            @dan From the way it's written it sounds like that's something that's there from the start. Also, I'm not sure if it would even cause drag: a "list" here means the broom is steering more to one direction than the other when it should be going straight.
            – Laurel
            1 hour ago












            @dan it's a little silly to look for precise explanations of the physics of magical flying brooms. Some things we have to just take on faith. :)
            – Andrew
            11 mins ago




            @dan it's a little silly to look for precise explanations of the physics of magical flying brooms. Some things we have to just take on faith. :)
            – Andrew
            11 mins ago












            up vote
            1
            down vote













            I knew you were referring to the movement version of the word "drag" so with that in mind, I found this:



            Merriam Webster



            2) Drag (noun): motion effected with slowness or difficulty
            also : the condition of having or seeming to have such motion. Merriam



            However, since you're referring to a flying broom, to be accurate, I looked up the aerodynamic definition of the word "drag".



            NASA (with some edits):



            Drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air (in this case, the "aircraft" happens to be a broom). Drag is generated by every part of the broom (even a listing, tail end!).



            I hope that helps.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






















              up vote
              1
              down vote













              I knew you were referring to the movement version of the word "drag" so with that in mind, I found this:



              Merriam Webster



              2) Drag (noun): motion effected with slowness or difficulty
              also : the condition of having or seeming to have such motion. Merriam



              However, since you're referring to a flying broom, to be accurate, I looked up the aerodynamic definition of the word "drag".



              NASA (with some edits):



              Drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air (in this case, the "aircraft" happens to be a broom). Drag is generated by every part of the broom (even a listing, tail end!).



              I hope that helps.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                up vote
                1
                down vote










                up vote
                1
                down vote









                I knew you were referring to the movement version of the word "drag" so with that in mind, I found this:



                Merriam Webster



                2) Drag (noun): motion effected with slowness or difficulty
                also : the condition of having or seeming to have such motion. Merriam



                However, since you're referring to a flying broom, to be accurate, I looked up the aerodynamic definition of the word "drag".



                NASA (with some edits):



                Drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air (in this case, the "aircraft" happens to be a broom). Drag is generated by every part of the broom (even a listing, tail end!).



                I hope that helps.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                I knew you were referring to the movement version of the word "drag" so with that in mind, I found this:



                Merriam Webster



                2) Drag (noun): motion effected with slowness or difficulty
                also : the condition of having or seeming to have such motion. Merriam



                However, since you're referring to a flying broom, to be accurate, I looked up the aerodynamic definition of the word "drag".



                NASA (with some edits):



                Drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air (in this case, the "aircraft" happens to be a broom). Drag is generated by every part of the broom (even a listing, tail end!).



                I hope that helps.







                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer






                New contributor




                Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                answered 40 mins ago









                Sue F.

                561




                561




                New contributor




                Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





                New contributor





                Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                Sue F. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






























                     

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