Effects of drag on the distance of a car travelling

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    Car Drag Effects
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the distance a car travels after deploying a parachute, given its initial speed and the effects of drag. The problem involves concepts of drag force, acceleration, and integration in the context of non-constant acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The initial speed of the car is 100 m/s, and after 10 seconds, it decreases to 45.45 m/s, with drag force being a significant factor.
  • One participant calculated the speed after 10 seconds using the equation -Fd = m du/dt but expressed uncertainty about using SUVAT equations due to non-constant acceleration.
  • Another participant inquired about the mass of the car, which was later provided as 2000 kg.
  • A mathematical approach was suggested involving the integration of acceleration and drag force to find displacement, but it appears that the original poster is struggling with the manipulation of the equations to derive the distance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on how to correctly calculate the distance traveled, as participants are exploring different methods and expressing uncertainty about the integration process.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps required to calculate the distance, and there are limitations regarding the assumptions made about acceleration and the effects of drag.

oscar90
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Homework Statement


A car starts at 100 m/s and deploys a parachute. After 10 seconds its speed decreases to 45.45 m/s. Calculate the distance the car has traveled in this duration. The effects of ground resistance are ignored.

drag coefficient and planform area product (Cd * A) = 4 m^2


Homework Equations



drag force, Fd = 1/2 (rho) * u^2 * Cd * A

rho = density, 1.22 kg/m^3
u = speed
Cd = drag coefficient
A = planform area

-Fd = m du/dt

m = mass



The Attempt at a Solution



Basically I managed to calculate the speed after 10 seconds which is 45.45 m/s by integrating -Fd = m du/dt.

I cannot use the SUVAT equations to calculate the distance because it is not constant acceleration (I think). Besides, even if I try this method I get the question wrong. The answer from my lecturer is supposedly s=657m.

I think the above equation must be integrated again to get the displacement but I have tried and I think I'm missing something because I can't manipulate it so that I end up with s in the formula.

Please help as I have pulled my hair off trying to figure this out to no avail.
 
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What is the value for mass?
 
Oops sorry forgot to put that value. Mass is 2000 kg.
 
From:

[tex]ma=F_d[/tex]

And:

[tex]a dx=u du[/tex]

You get:

[tex]\int dx=\int\frac{m u}{F_d}du[/tex]
 

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