coefficient of contraction

coefficient of contraction

[¦kō·ə′fish·ənt əv kən′trak·shən]

(fluid mechanics)

The ratio of the minimum cross-sectional area of a jet of liquid discharging from an orifice to the area of the orifice. Also known as contraction coefficient.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.