Lift coefficient

The lift coefficient (CL or CZ) is coefficient without a dimension that relates the lift generated by an airfoil, the dynamic pressure of the fluid flow around the airfoil, and the planform area of the airfoil.  It may also be described as the ratio of lift pressure to dynamic pressure.
Lift coefficient may be used to relate the total lift generated by an aircraft to the total area of the wing of the aircraft.  
Lift coefficent may also be used as a characteristic of a particular shape (or cross-section) of an airfoil.  

The lift coefficient is a dimensionless number.

Category:Fluid mechanics