Several 2-m-wide, 4-m-long thin metal plates are towed for an underwater construction. Assuming the tow vehicle moves at a speed of 2 m/s and the plates are parallel to the free stream, calculate the drag force for a single plate positioned as in cases a and b in the figure. Calculate the boundary-layer thickness at the end of the plate (for the two cases). Assume laminar flow (Blasius solution) and use seawater properties from Table 1.1.
