Resistive Force Proportional to Object Speed Squared

In summary: The intuition behind the equation is that at high speeds, the air molecules collide with the moving object more frequently, resulting in a greater force. The square relationship comes from the fact that the force is proportional to the velocity squared.
  • #1
Anama Skout
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Straight from my physics textbook:

For objects moving at high speeds through air, such as airplanes, skydivers, cars, and baseballs, the resistive force is reasonably well modeled as proportional to the square of the speed. In these situations, the magnitude of the resistive force can be expressed as $$\sf R=\tfrac12D\rho Av^2\tag{6.7}$$ where ##\sf D## is a dimensionless empirical quantity called the drag coefficient, ##\sf r## is the density of air, and ##\sf A## is the cross-sectional area of the moving object measured in a plane perpendicular to its velocity. The drag coefficient has a value of about ##\sf 0.5## for spherical objects but can have a value as great as ##\sf 2## for irregularly shaped objects.​

I want to know how can one - formally - derive ##\sf eq.(6.7)##? (they didn't show a derivation for that formula) And what's the intuition behind it? For instance why is ##\sf R\propto v^2## and not ##\sf R\propto v##? Where does that ##\sf \frac12## coefficient comes from?
 
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  • #2
Anama Skout said:
Straight from my physics textbook:

For objects moving at high speeds through air, such as airplanes, skydivers, cars, and baseballs, the resistive force is reasonably well modeled as proportional to the square of the speed. In these situations, the magnitude of the resistive force can be expressed as $$\sf R=\tfrac12D\rho Av^2\tag{6.7}$$ where ##\sf D## is a dimensionless empirical quantity called the drag coefficient, ##\sf r## is the density of air, and ##\sf A## is the cross-sectional area of the moving object measured in a plane perpendicular to its velocity. The drag coefficient has a value of about ##\sf 0.5## for spherical objects but can have a value as great as ##\sf 2## for irregularly shaped objects.​

I want to know how can one - formally - derive ##\sf eq.(6.7)##? (they didn't show a derivation for that formula) And what's the intuition behind it? For instance why is ##\sf R\propto v^2## and not ##\sf R\propto v##? Where does that ##\sf \frac12## coefficient comes from?

Here is the derivation of the drag equation:

http://physics.info/drag/

The factor of 1/2 falls out from the Bernoulli equation.
 
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1. How does resistive force vary with object speed squared?

The resistive force acting on an object is directly proportional to the square of its speed. This means that as the object's speed increases, the resistive force also increases at a faster rate.

2. What causes resistive force to be proportional to object speed squared?

The relationship between resistive force and object speed squared is due to the properties of air resistance. As an object moves through the air, it creates a disturbance in the air molecules, causing them to collide with the object and create a resistive force. This force is proportional to the square of the object's speed because the faster an object moves, the more air molecules it will collide with, resulting in a greater resistive force.

3. How does resistive force affect an object's motion?

The presence of resistive force can slow down an object's motion. As the object moves faster, the resistive force acting on it increases, making it more difficult for the object to maintain its speed. This can ultimately lead to a decrease in the object's velocity and a change in its overall motion.

4. Can resistive force be stronger than the force propelling an object?

Yes, resistive force can be stronger than the force propelling an object. This is especially true for objects moving at high speeds. As the object's speed increases, the resistive force also increases at a faster rate, eventually becoming stronger than the force propelling the object and causing it to slow down or come to a stop.

5. How can the resistive force be reduced?

The resistive force acting on an object can be reduced by minimizing its surface area, making it more aerodynamic. This reduces the disturbance of air molecules and decreases the force of air resistance. Additionally, reducing the speed of the object can also decrease the resistive force acting on it.

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