Terminal velocity and drag coefficient?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on finding expressions for the speed of a falling body as a function of time under two scenarios of air resistance: proportional to speed and proportional to the square of speed. For the second case, the user derives a terminal velocity expression and attempts to solve the differential equation, arriving at a function for speed over time. They seek confirmation on the correctness of their solution for the second case and inquire about the necessary adjustments for the first case. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly formulating the differential equations for each scenario to derive the appropriate terminal velocities.
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Ok, I think I'm getting a hold on this problem, but I want to make sure I'm in the direction...

Homework Statement


Let \inline{v_\infty} be the terminal velocity of a falling body in air. If the body is dropped from rest, find the expression for the speed as a function of time (1) if the air resistance is proportional to the speed, and (2) if it is proportional to the square of the speed. In each case, relate the terminal velocity to the drag coefficient (proportionality constant) \inline\rho, mass m, and g, the acceleration due to gravity.

Homework Equations


1.f=ma=m\frac{dv}{dt}

2.f=f_a-f_g=\rho v^2-mg

3.a=\frac{dv}{dt}=\frac{d^2x}{dt^2}

The Attempt at a Solution


I believe this is the solution for case (2), but I don't really know what it is for case (1). I know that case (1) involves slow moving bodies, and vice versa for case 2.

If you take eqn. 1 and divide by m, that gives you the acceleration.

\frac{f}{m}=\frac{dv}{dt}=\frac{\rho}{m}v^2-g\\<br /> =g\left(\frac{\rho}{mg}v^2-1\right)\\<br /> =g\left(\frac{v^2}{v_\infty}-1\right)

where \inline v_\infty is the terminal velocity \inline{\sqrt{\frac{mg}{\rho}}}

Using separation of variables, I got to this:

\frac{v_\infty^2dv}{v^2-v_\infty^2}=gdt

Then after taking the integral of each side, and then doing a bunch of algebra which I won't show here [unless you need me to put it to better understand the process], I eventually got this:

v(t)=(v_\infty)\frac{e^{\frac{-2gt}{v_\infty}}-1}{e^{\frac{-2gt}{v_\infty}}+1}

Is this correct for case (2)? If so, what would change for case (1)? Thanks for your help! :smile:
 
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The physics here is writing the differential equations. The rest is just math.

For the first, the differential equation is as follows:

<br /> m\frac{dv}{dt} = \rho v - mg<br />

For the second:

<br /> m\frac{dv}{dt} = \rho v^2 - mg<br />

The terminal velocity is just the limit as t \rightarrow \infty.
 
So that final answer is correct? I would just have to re-do the math with a v instead of a v²?
 
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