Drag Force Acting on an Object with Respect to Velocity

[rcgldr]

If the drag force can be defined as 1/2 Cd A v^2, where Cd is coefficient of drag, and A is cross sectional area, then there is a closed form solution for an dropped object with only a vertical component of velocity. Wiki link, click on "show" for the derivation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_velocity#Derivation_for_terminal_velocity

 

[haruspex]

If the drag force can be defined as 1/2 Cd A v^2, where Cd is coefficient of drag, and A is cross sectional area, then there is a closed form solution for an dropped object with only a vertical component of velocity. Wiki link, click on "show" for the derivation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_velocity#Derivation_for_terminal_velocity

As I understand the purpose of the exercise, it is to estimate the drag forces at various points in the fall based on the measured velocities. There is no suggestion that it should be based on any drag equation or theory.