Air Resistance & Upward Velocity: Examining the Relationship

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between air resistance and upward velocity of a ball thrown into the air. It is established that air resistance increases with velocity, but its behavior as the ball decelerates is complex. The air resistance may decrease as the upward velocity decreases, or it may remain constant after an initial increase, depending on the conditions. The formula M(dv/dt) = -k.v = -k(ds/dt) is introduced, where k is influenced by air quality and density.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with basic physics concepts such as velocity and acceleration
  • Knowledge of air resistance and its dependence on velocity
  • Basic mathematical skills for interpreting differential equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the effects of air density on drag force in fluid dynamics
  • Explore the derivation and application of the drag equation in physics
  • Learn about the role of gravity in projectile motion analysis
  • Investigate the impact of different shapes and sizes of objects on air resistance
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of projectile motion and the effects of air resistance on moving objects.

MarcusK
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If air resistance increases with velocity, then if a ball is thrown upwards, does air resistance decrease as the upward velocity of the ball decreases or does it only increase and remains constant when the upward velocity of the ball decreases?
 
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MarcusK said:
If air resistance increases with velocity, then if a ball is thrown upwards, does air resistance decrease as the upward velocity of the ball decreases or does it only increase and remains constant when the upward velocity of the ball decreases?

What do you think? And why?
 
Not getting clear in your last line.
 
PeroK said:
What do you think? And why?
it's in the question: I think that "air resistance could decrease as the upward velocity of the ball decreases or it could increase and then remain constant even when the upward velocity of the ball decreases" Air resistance could decrease because it is strictly dependent on air resistance, i.e. air resistance opposes motion, therefore increasing when the object has a velocity or is accelerating. Or Air resistance could increase right after the ball leaves the hand of the person who threw the ball, and remain constant at that amount of opposing force even if the object begins to decelerate due to gravity.
 
Before the release, we might have been applying the force but just after the release we are not applying any force, the ball has inherited the motion of the hands, and it is having its own velocity.
Now why to take the gravity, to know about the behavior we should go special instead of going through complicated situations.
So, after initial velocity, the air resists it let for 'dt' time, then its velocity decreases, now in again another 'dt' time it encounters with less no. Of air particles which can be calculated by the product of its velocity at that instant and dt time.
This way we conclude to the formulae

M. (dv/dt) = - k. v = - k. (ds/dt)
Where k depends on quality of air., density of air.
 

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