How to Integrate a Function to Solve Air Resistance Equations?

In summary, the conversation discusses a problem in "Elementary Differential Equations" by Edwards and Penney regarding integration and finding air resistance equations. The conversation includes a solution using ODE and a brief explanation of the process. The conversation also mentions the use of a N-spire calculator and provides further instructions on how to solve the problem.
  • #1
Us477
7
0
I have been unable to solve this problem featured in "Elementary Differential Equations" by Edwards and Penney. The problem is this: I do not know how to integrate the function, and get the desired result. I would very much appreciated any help and instructions on how to get the two air resistance equations by integrating the function.

Thanks

Søren, Denmark

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  • #2
U477 said:
I have been unable to solve this problem featured in "Elementary Differential Equations" by Edwards and Penney. The problem is this: I do not know how to integrate the function, and get the desired result. I would very much appreciated any help and instructions on how to get the two air resistance equations by integrating the function.

Thanks

Søren, Denmark

View attachment 615

The ODE can be written with the variables v and t separated as...

$\displaystyle \frac{d v}{1 - \frac{k}{m g}\ v^{2}} = g\ d t$ (1)

... and remembering that is...

$\displaystyle \int \frac{d u}{1-a\ u^{2}} = \frac{\tanh^{-1} (\sqrt{a}\ u)}{\sqrt{a}} + c$ (2)

... You obtain...$\displaystyle \tanh^{-1} (\sqrt{\frac{k}{m\ g}}\ v) = \sqrt{\frac{k\ g}{m}}\ t + c $ (3)

... and from (3)...

$\displaystyle v = \sqrt{\frac{m\ g}{k}} \tanh (\sqrt{\frac{k\ g}{m}}\ t + c)$ (4)

Now You can proceed if You are able to find the constant c and that is possible if the initial speed v(0) is given... Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$
 
  • #3
Thanks for your help.

I have a few questions for your solution -

1) Why are the position of the constants changed inside the radical in (3) – I am thinking they should be the same.

2) When I try to isolate ”v” I end up with a fraction - how did you go from (3) to (4)

I'm still new to all this thanks for helping me out
 
  • #4
U477 said:
Thanks for your help.

I have a few questions for your solution -

1) Why are the position of the constants changed inside the radical in (3) – I am thinking they should be the same.

2) When I try to isolate ”v” I end up with a fraction - how did you go from (3) to (4)

I'm still new to all this thanks for helping me out

I apologize to have omitted some intermediate stage and I suggest You, as useful exercise, to try Yourself to complete my work...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
  • #5
Yeah, I tried that but couldn't come up with your result. For your information, I use a N-spire calculator.
 
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  • #6
U477 said:
...for your information, I use a N-spire calculator...

Unfortunately I don't have available such a powerful math tool...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
  • #7
So you have
$$\frac{1}{g} \, \frac{dv}{dt}=1- \frac{k}{mg}\,v^{2}$$
$$\int \frac{dv}{1- \frac{k}{mg} \,v^{2}}=g \int dt$$
$$ \frac{ \tanh^{-1} \left( \sqrt{ \frac{k}{mg}} \, v \right)}{ \sqrt{ \frac{k}{mg}} }=gt+c$$
$$\tanh^{-1} \left( \sqrt{ \frac{k}{mg}} \, v \right)= \sqrt{ \frac{k}{mg}}\, (gt+c)$$
$$\tanh^{-1} \left( \sqrt{ \frac{k}{mg}} \, v \right)= \sqrt{ \frac{k g^{2}}{mg}}\,t+\sqrt{ \frac{k}{mg}} \, c= \sqrt{ \frac{kg}{m}}\,t+c'.$$
Can you continue from here? Note that a constant times an arbitrary constant is just another arbitrary constant - in DE's, you often absorb known constants into arbitrary constants, and relabel as the original arbitrary constant. So the $c'$ above becomes $c$ again.
 
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  • #8
Thank you very very much you have been a great help!
 

FAQ: How to Integrate a Function to Solve Air Resistance Equations?

What is the equation for air resistance?

The equation for air resistance is Fd = 0.5CdAv2, where Fd is the drag force, Cd is the drag coefficient, A is the cross-sectional area, and v is the velocity of the object.

How does air resistance affect objects?

Air resistance, also known as drag, is a force that opposes the motion of an object through air. It can slow down the speed of an object, change its direction, or cause it to come to a stop.

What factors affect the amount of air resistance an object experiences?

The amount of air resistance an object experiences depends on its size, shape, velocity, and the density of the air it is moving through. Objects with larger surface areas, higher velocities, and moving through denser air will experience more air resistance.

How does air resistance vary with altitude?

Air resistance decreases with altitude because the air becomes less dense as you move higher in the atmosphere. This means that objects will experience less drag and can travel faster at higher altitudes.

Can air resistance be completely eliminated?

No, air resistance cannot be completely eliminated. Even objects designed to have minimal air resistance, like airplanes, still experience some drag due to the friction between the moving air and the surface of the object.

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