Calculating Air Resistance in Falling Objects

[axlg38]

Homework Statement

an object with a mass of 1.21g is falling at a constant velocity of 1.1 m/s. What is the force of air resistance exerted on the object?

Homework Equations

f=ma

The Attempt at a Solution

i imagined that if the object is falling at a constant velocity, then acceleration is 0. so it seems that f=0, but that's obviously not true. i have no idea how to do this

EDIT: according to the book, the answer is about .0119N, I am not sure how to arrive at that answer

 

[lewando]

The acceleration is 0. The velocity is constant. If by "f=0", you mean Ʃf = 0, that is correct.

[Edit: the book is correct]

 

[lewando]

What are the forces acting on the falling body?

 

[axlg38]

gravity and air resistance?

 

[lewando]

Yes! In which direction is gravity working? In which direction is air resistance working?

 

[axlg38]

gravity is working downward, and air resistance is working upward

 

[lewando]

Right, so if acceleration is zero and Ʃf (sum of the forces) = ma = 0, what can you conclude about the magnitudes of the 2 forces?

 

[axlg38]

They cancel each other out? i thought if that happened, the object wouldn't move at all

 

[lewando]

Ah, I see where you are hung up. You should review Newton's 1st law. It is okay for an object to have a constant velocity as long as there is no net force acting on it (think of an object traveling through space, away from significant sources of gravity). In this case, you correctly assert that "they cancel each other out" -- there is no net force acting on the body.

Would you say that the 2 forces are equal and opposite?

 

[axlg38]

yes?

 

[lewando]

Yes! Then we are almost home. What is the force of gravity on the body. Please report in units of Newtons.

 

[axlg38]

11.858 n

 

[lewando]

Almost. [Edit: I'm using "almost" in the broadest sense, meaning you could be off by 3 orders of magnitutde ] Newtons are (kg*m)/s²

 

[axlg38]

alright, thanks for the help haha this is going to save me on the test scheduled for tuesday