Calculating Air Resistance Work on a Thrown Ball

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating the work done by air resistance on a 5kg ball thrown upwards at an initial velocity of 30m/s, with a constant air resistance force of 25N. The total force acting against the ball during its ascent is the sum of gravitational force (49N) and air resistance (25N), leading to a calculation of height and time until the ball reaches its peak. During descent, the net force is adjusted to account for air resistance, allowing for the calculation of final velocity and kinetic energy upon return to the original height.

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  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Basic principles of work and energy in physics
  • Knowledge of kinematics and free fall
  • Familiarity with the concept of air resistance and its effects on motion
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  • Calculate the maximum height reached by the ball using kinematic equations
  • Explore the effects of variable air resistance on projectile motion
  • Study the relationship between work, force, and displacement in physics
  • Investigate the principles of kinetic energy and its calculation in motion scenarios
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Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of projectile motion and the impact of air resistance on moving objects.

BunHead
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let's say i have a 5kg ball and i throw it up with an initial V of 30m/s with air resistance of 25, how would i find the work done by air resistance on the way up and on the way down?
 
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Air resistance of 25? 25 what?
 
25N ... Thnx
 
While the ball is going up you have a total force of (5*9.8 + 25) N acting against the movement. So you can calculate how long it will take for the velocity to be zero and the corresponding height.
When the ball goes down, there will be a force of (5*9.8 - 25) N accelerating it. Knowing the height the ball starts on, you can calculate the time to reach ground.
edited to add:
The work done by air resistance is the force times the diplacement. Or 25N times twice the height.
 
Just for fun...how would we calculate the Kinectic energy back to the original place?
 
Find the height it will go, that distance multiplied by each force acting on it will give the work done with each force. 5*9.8 = 49N from gravity and 25N from air resistance.

Keep in mind though air resistance isn't constant, so saying 25N from air resistance doesn't really make sense.
 
Loozer said:
Just for fun...how would we calculate the Kinectic energy back to the original place?

Once you know the height the ball has attained and the accelerating force down (5*9.8+25)N, you can calculate the final velocity V. The kinectic energy is 5*V2
 

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