Time of flight objects in air versus in vacuum

[Asad Raza]

Hello
I needed to know a logical answer to the question that whether the time of flight of the objects in air increases or decreases as compared to vacuum? Why?

 

[Drakkith]

What do you think?

 

[Asad Raza]

I reckon that the time should decrease as the height approached (of a vertically thrown object for instance) decreases

 

[Drakkith]

I reckon that the time should decrease as the height approached (of a vertically thrown object for instance) decreases

What do you mean by "the height approached"?

 

[Asad Raza]

Max vertical height approached

 

[Drakkith]

Time of flight certainly decreases as the max height thrown decreases, but your original question was about an object thrown in the atmosphere vs in space.

 

[Asad Raza]

Oh yes! If we consider two similar heights in the journey of an object in space and atmosphere. The one in the atmosphere will take more time, I guess, since it has to sail through air drag. Right?

 

[Drakkith]

That's right. Air's a real drag, ain't it?!

 

[Asad Raza]

Yes

 

[jbriggs444]

Oh yes! If we consider two similar heights in the journey of an object in space and atmosphere. The one in the atmosphere will take more time, I guess, since it has to sail through air drag. Right?

Details matter. Is the object at rest, falling or rising? Does it have a spin? What about its horizontal velocity? What about its shape?

 

[russ_watters]

Am I missing something here? I see no description at all about what kind of objects we're discussing and what is making them move. It matters a lot if we're talking about a bowling ball or a glider, for example.

 

[Drakkith]

Am I missing something here? I see no description at all about what kind of objects we're discussing and what is making them move. It matters a lot if we're talking about a bowling ball or a glider, for example.

Unless the question is about throwing something with a rocket engine, I don't see how any of that matters since we're talking about vacuum vs non vacuum. Seems pretty clear cut to me.

 

[jbriggs444]

Unless the question is about throwing something with a rocket engine, I don't see how any of that matters since we're talking about vacuum vs non vacuum. Seems pretty clear cut to me.

Take, for instance, the case of a piece of [indestructible] paper hurled upward at escape velocity. It takes longer to hit ground in vacuum than in air.

 

[russ_watters]

Unless the question is about throwing something with a rocket engine, I don't see how any of that matters since we're talking about vacuum vs non vacuum. Seems pretty clear cut to me.

If you drive a golf ball or throw a paper airplane in a vacuum it will come down faster than if you do it in air... unless it has topspin or is flying upside-down in which case it may generate negative lift and fall much faster than when either creating positive lift or thrown in a vacuum.

 

[Drakkith]

Take, for instance, the case of a piece of [indestructible] paper hurled upward at escape velocity. It takes longer to hit ground in vacuum than in air.

If you drive a golf ball or throw a paper airplane in a vacuum it will come down faster than if you do it in air... unless it has topspin or is flying upside-down in which case it may generate negative lift and fall much faster than when either creating positive lift or thrown in a vacuum.

I see. My mistake then. I hope I haven't led the OP astray.