Hint: The drag force will be equal to the rate of momentum transferred by the gas molecules.
Step 1: Find the momentum transferred by the gas molecules.
Consider the diagram.
m= mass of the gas
= density of the gas
Let n = number of molecules per unit volume
= RMS speed of the gas molecules
When the block is moving with speed , the relative speed of molecules w.r.t. front face = v+ coming head-on
The momentum transferred to the block per collision =2m(v+)
where m=mass of the molecule.
The number of collision in time ,
where A = area of cross-section of block and factor of 1/2 appears due to particles moving towards the block.
the momentum transferred in time from the front surface.
Similarly, momentum transferred in time (from the back surface)
Step 2: Find the net darg force.
Net force drag force = mnA [from front]
where we have assumed,
If v = velocity along x-axis,
Then, we can write,
From Eq.(i), Drag force=