Equivalence between 2 solutions

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The discussion revolves around demonstrating the equivalence of two solutions for a particle's motion under gravity and linear drag. The first solution is given as v(t) = -g/k + (v_o + g/k)e^{-kt}. Participants are attempting to show that their derived solutions from the second equation, using the relation ##\ddot{x} = v dv/dx##, align with this expression. Various methods are explored, including differentiating and substituting terms, but challenges arise in achieving the correct form, particularly with the presence of the -g/k term. The conversation highlights the importance of careful algebraic manipulation and dimensional analysis to resolve discrepancies in the results.
CAF123
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Homework Statement


A particle of mass ##m## is projected from ##x(0) = x_o## in the vertical direction, with an initial velocity, ##\dot{x}(0) = v_o##. It is subject to gravity and linear drag, mk|v|, against the motion.

1) Show that the body follows ##v(t)## such that:$$v(t) = -g/k + (v_o + g/k)e^{-kt}$$
2) Use ##\ddot{x} = v dv/dx ## to find a soln to the motion subject to the initial condition. Show the equivalence between the result attained and the one shown in 1).

Homework Equations


Separable Diff Eqns, Newton 2nd

The Attempt at a Solution



1) is fine. I don't really know how to show the equivalence, but I have tried two different ways, where one way I get nothing near equivalence and the other I recover the exp term above, but not the -g/k in front.

Method 1). After solving ##\ddot{x} = v dv/dx, ##I get ##x = x(v)##. Then by the chain rule, ##dx/dt = dx/dv\,dv/dt##. So I differentiated my soln in 2) wrt v and then multiplied this by the derivative of v wrt t in 1). This gives me nothing near equivalence, although I am not sure why.

Method 2). Put v = v(t) in 1) into my x(v). This gives x(t). Then simply differentiate wrt t. I get the second term in 1) (exp term) but not the -g/k.

Both methods seem valid, (are they?) but I don't get the result. I could recheck my algebra again, but both methods yield a (g +kv)^3 and that is not present in 1) and it doesn't cancel.

Many thanks.
 
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You need to post all your working.
 
haruspex said:
You need to post all your working.

Sure, I have attached my working.

EDIT: The images turned out quite faint - i'll re upload with the working in pen.
 

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  • Method 1) part2.jpg
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  • Method 2.jpg
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Working in pen:
 

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I don't see where the second equation on page 2 comes from. It's dimensionally wrong. k has dimension 1/T, LHS = dx/dv has dimension T, on RHS v/k2 has dimension LT and g/(k(g+kv)) has dimension T.
 
haruspex said:
I don't see where the second equation on page 2 comes from. It's dimensionally wrong. k has dimension 1/T, LHS = dx/dv has dimension T, on RHS v/k2 has dimension LT and g/(k(g+kv)) has dimension T.

I see. But what did I do wrong? All I did was differentiate wrt v, and so the terms not containing v just vanished.
EDIT: I made an error there - i see. Thanks for pointing this out. I'll recheck things.
 
Fixing my error above only removes the v/k term that I had in front of the exp term so I recover the ##(v_o + v_T)exp.. ##term but not the other one..
 
CAF123 said:
Fixing my error above only removes the v/k term that I had in front of the exp term so I recover the ##(v_o + v_T)exp.. ##term but not the other one..

That's not what I get. Pls post the corrected steps.
 
So taking the derivative of the first line:
dx/dv = -1/k + g/(k(g+kv))

Multiply this with dv/dt obtained from A) (shown in the image) gives me the term (v_o -v_T)exp but not the '+v_T' term.

Many thanks.
 
  • #10
CAF123 said:
So taking the derivative of the first line:
dx/dv = -1/k + g/(k(g+kv))

Multiply this with dv/dt obtained from A) (shown in the image) gives me the term (v_o -v_T)exp but not the '+v_T' term.

Many thanks.

The procedure you describe works for me, so you will need to post ALL your working.
 
  • #11
Ok, I will post all my working momentarily. But how would you get that +v_T? In the dx/dv, I have a g/k(g+kv) term , so how when multiplied by dx/dt will I get anything near a simple +v_T?

EDIT: Working attached

And that second line should read ##-\frac{1}{k} + \frac{g}{k(g+kv)}, ## not ##-\frac{1}{k} + \frac{g}{g(g+kv)}, ##
 

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  • #12
You're missing that you have v on both sides of the equation (as dx/dt on the left). You need to rearrange it so that v is only on the left. Btw, the expression for dx/dv can be simplified a lot.
 
  • #13
I see, thanks. But what about method 2) (also contained in same link). I don't think I made the same mistake there. Thanks
 
  • #14
In the very first line after "METHOD2" you have the wrong sign on the g/k term at the end of the line. It must be vT, so that it tends to vT as t tends to infinity, and vT = -g/k. If you fix that there'll be some cancellation.
 
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