Calculate Velocity of Skydiver: Mass M, Air Drag Coefficient D

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the velocity of a skydiver with mass M=80kg and an air drag coefficient D=0.1kg/m, the equation of motion m*(dv/dt) = mg - Dv² is used. The terminal velocity Vt is found to be 88.5 m/s using the formula Vt = sqrt(mg/D). However, the discussion highlights confusion regarding the application of high-speed air drag versus low-speed drag in deriving the velocity function over time. The original poster struggles to follow the derivation steps provided in their textbook, which complicates their understanding of the velocity calculation. Additional resources and clarification on the derivation process are requested to resolve these issues.
Crebble32
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Calculate velocity of the skydiver of mass M= 80kg as a function of time. The air drag coefficient D= 100g/m = 0.1kg/m. Assume that the skydiver has v=o at t=0.


In my book high speed air drag is f=Dv^2.
I found Vt= 88.5 m/s with Sqrt(mg/D). BUT this is not the V they are asking for :(

my book derives the formula for V with the low speed air drag, not the HIGH speed one. I can't follow the steps they did and figure out what exactly the formula actually is! What I started out with is:

m*(dv/dt) = mg- Dv^2

I have no clue where to go from here :( If anyone could help me I appreciate any help I can get!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Thank you so much!
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top