- #1
koolraj09
- 167
- 5
Hi all,
This question just occurred to me: Whether a falling raindrop in presence of a uniform horizontal wind (ideally speaking) has a curve trajectory or a straight line?
Assuming the wind force is constant, the velocity of the raindrop in horizontal direction will keep on changing since there is no other force in this direction to bring the raindrop to a terminal velocity in horizontal direction.
In the vertical direction, there is also only one force, gravity. No other force being acted on.
So writing the two equations of motion in horizontal and vertical directions give:
d2x/dt2 = (Fx/M) = constant; and d2y/dt2 = g;
Solving this for x and y with initial conditions set to zero, gives a straight line.
Is this possible that in such a condition the raindrop is falling in an inclined straight line?
Why does then the projectile motion trajectory is a parabola?
Is this model a good approximation (if correct) for a first cut analysis of raindrop trajectories?
Anything I've missed or that can be added to bring the model more close to reality? How do I confirm the prediction of the model?
Thanks in advance!
This question just occurred to me: Whether a falling raindrop in presence of a uniform horizontal wind (ideally speaking) has a curve trajectory or a straight line?
Assuming the wind force is constant, the velocity of the raindrop in horizontal direction will keep on changing since there is no other force in this direction to bring the raindrop to a terminal velocity in horizontal direction.
In the vertical direction, there is also only one force, gravity. No other force being acted on.
So writing the two equations of motion in horizontal and vertical directions give:
d2x/dt2 = (Fx/M) = constant; and d2y/dt2 = g;
Solving this for x and y with initial conditions set to zero, gives a straight line.
Is this possible that in such a condition the raindrop is falling in an inclined straight line?
Why does then the projectile motion trajectory is a parabola?
Is this model a good approximation (if correct) for a first cut analysis of raindrop trajectories?
Anything I've missed or that can be added to bring the model more close to reality? How do I confirm the prediction of the model?
Thanks in advance!