Aerodynamics is the study of the interaction between air and moving objects. It is vital to understanding how planes and rockets fly but is also used to understand everything from how kites can stay aloft to how a baseball pitch can curve. Aerodynamics is also studied in relation to objects moving along the ground such as cars or runners. Aerodynamics can also be used to study wind loads in the design of structures and to study the internal passage of air through ventilation systems and gas piping.

Most of the advances in aerodynamics have come from the study of flying vehicles and to a lesser extent, ground vehicles. With the use of testing such as wind tunnels and computer simulations, vehicles can now be designed and tested using aerodynamic principles. The ultimate goal of the use of aerodynamics in vehicle design is to improve speed, stability and efficiency. Since aerodynamics involves both air and the vehicle moving through it, researchers can study advancements from two basic approaches. First, they can try to understand how air flows around a vehicle as it moves at different speeds. Secondly, they can focus on how to design a vehicle to optimize a specific characteristic.