Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
2351/2352
2016.
Brief Summary
Aside from Geometric Applications, Orthogonal Trajectories, and Growth and Decay as
to Compound Interest and Temperature, one of the real life application of Differential Equation is
on Terminal Velocity. Taken from the article of Mr. Jeffrey Robert Chasnov, using Newtons law,
they model a mass free falling under gravity but with air resistance. They assume that the force
of air resistance is proportional to the speed of the mass and opposes the direction of motion.
They define the -axis to point in the upward direction, opposite the force of gravity. Near the
surface of the Earth, the force of gravity is approximately constant and is given by , with =
9.8 m/s2 the usual gravitational acceleration. The force of air resistance is modeled by , where
is the vertical velocity of the mass and is a positive constant. When the mass is falling, < 0
and the force of air resistance is positive, pointing upward and opposing the motion. The total
force on the mass is therefore given by = . With = and = /, they obtain the
differential equation
dv
dt = . (2.21)
The terminal velocity of the mass is defined as the asymptotic velocity after air
resistance balances the gravitational force. When the mass is at terminal velocity, / = 0 so
mg
that = k . (2.22)
The approach to the terminal velocity of a mass initially at rest is obtained by solving
(2.21) with initial condition (0) = 0. The equation is both linear and separable, and they solve by
separating variables:
v t
dv
mg+kv = dt ,
0 0
m dv
k ln( mg+ kv ) = ,
kv
/
1+ mg = ,
mg
/
= k (1 ).
/
Therefore, = ( 1 ) , and approaches as the exponential term decays to
zero.
As an example, a skydiver of mass = 100 kg with his parachute closed may have a
terminal velocity of 200 km/hr. With = (9.8 m/s2 )(103 km/m)(60 s/min)2(60 min/hr)2 = 127,
008 km/hr2, one obtains from (2.22), = 63, 504 kg/hr. One-half of the terminal velocity for free-
/
fall (100 km/hr) is therefore attained when (1 ) = 1/2, or = ln 2/ 4 sec.
Approximately 95% of the terminal velocity (190 km/hr ) is attained after 17 sec.
plane with a parachute than without one. Terminal velocity is exploring why objects fall at
different speeds and how to calculate the maximum speed of a falling object.
Upon studying this application, I almost have to double check every information it gives.
Though, I can say that content of this is very well explained and derivation of differential
equations is highly stated with explanation. What makes me hard to understand some of the
information are the words that this article used. It also makes me hard to understand this part
v t
dv m dv
mg+kv = dt , if how it becomes k ln( mg+ kv ) = and another on this part
0 0
of the example given, where = (9.8 m/s2 )(103 km/m)(60 s/min)2(60 min/hr)2 = 127, 008
km/hr2 because if this was obtained from equation 2.22, how it was happened?
Lastly, we cant deny the relationship between science and mathematics, but sometimes
science connected to Mathematics. In this article for me, its strength is, it was explained clearly
with a given example. Its weakness is that, as commented by lot of students as we teach, it would
be better if there are more examples given and for each every step, there is a corresponding
explanation on how each step is obtained. Another one is, for worded problems like this, I
appreciate if one of its solution is an illustration or picture of an event. This were all of course on
my own opinion.
A Critique Paper
(Terminal Velocity)
Presented to:
Presented by:
NOVELYN L MITRA MST-1