Recent content by The Don

Ok I think I'm starting to get it. The peak is pretty much the point in which velocity will start to decrease towards terminal velocity. However why does a spacecraft start at a speed higher than terminal velocity? (I'm using to thinking objects speed up to terminal velocity, but can't think...

No but I'm confused on how it's possible for an object's velocity to increase and then decrease in free fall. The curve is telling me that when the objects enters the atmosphere it will accelerate and the velocity will hit increase and likewise drag, but then drag peaks and then decreases but...

Hmm, what causes the speed to decrease though? Wouldn't drag itself still increase due to the increase in density as you approach the surface?

Since it hasn't hit terminal velocity, velocity should still be increasing (although not as quickly as before since it's decelerating) until terminal velocity is acquired which isn't till ~150 seconds. What am I missing?

I was given the following drag profile for a spacecraft upon reentry. I understand that the moment it enter's Earth's atmosphere it will be accelerated due to gravity and pick up speed which in turn increases drag however I don't understand why drag then decreases. Wouldn't density cause...

I'm trying to calculate the acceleration an accelerometer would read NOT placed in the Center of Gravity of the object. Let's look at the figure below. The accelerometer was placed in location (Xa,Za) and not in the CG of the object. Given that the accel's output is a_x and a_z at this location...

Homework Statement I'm trying to calculate the acceleration an accelerometer would read NOT placed in the Center of Gravity of the object. Let's look at the figure below. The accelerometer was placed in location (Xa,Za) and not in the CG of the object. Given that the accel's output is a_x and...

Yes, sorry for that. Please see latest post on the thread

Sorry please see my latest post in the thread

Hi BvU, Here is another picture showing the rotation Axis...Platform A is the gray box and Platform B is the blue platform in the pictures. R1 is the radius of the centrifuge's arm and R2 would be approximately the length/2 of Platform B.

Homework Statement Have platform A that is being spun by a centrifuge with a radius R1 and centripetal velocity of w1. On top of platform A is a Lazy Susan (Platform B) that spins about a radius R2 with a centripetal velocity of w2. There are accelerometers placed on the the purple platform...