How would you calculate air resistance from a projectile

[brandy]

im very interested to find out. iv been trying to nut it out but as of yet have not really got anywhere and so i thought id ask the brains here at physicsforums.

btw i realize direction changes but does the magnitude of air resitance change? i was assuming it didnt but if i did I am just going to give up right now.

 

[berkeman]

im very interested to find out. iv been trying to nut it out but as of yet have not really got anywhere and so i thought id ask the brains here at physicsforums.

btw i realize direction changes but does the magnitude of air resitance change? i was assuming it didnt but if i did I am just going to give up right now.

These two articles together should help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projectile_motion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_resistance

.

 

[astrokreng]

To calculate air resistance on a projectile, you would need to use the principles of fluid dynamics and specifically, the concept of drag force. Drag force is the force that opposes the motion of an object through a fluid (such as air). It is dependent on the shape and size of the object, the speed at which it is moving, and the properties of the fluid.

To calculate drag force, you can use the equation: Fd = ½ * ρ * v^2 * Cd * A, where ρ is the density of the fluid, v is the velocity of the object, Cd is the drag coefficient (which depends on the shape and size of the object), and A is the cross-sectional area of the object. This equation assumes that the object is moving at a constant speed and in a straight line.

To find the magnitude of air resistance at any given point, you would need to know the velocity of the projectile at that point, the properties of the fluid (such as air density), and the shape and size of the projectile. As the projectile moves through the air, its speed and direction may change, so the magnitude of air resistance will also change. This means that the air resistance cannot be calculated as a single value, but rather as a function of time and position.

If you are having trouble calculating air resistance on your own, I would recommend consulting with a physics textbook or an expert in fluid dynamics. It can be a complex topic, but with the right tools and knowledge, you should be able to accurately calculate air resistance on a projectile.