- #1
tyco05
- 161
- 0
Hi everyone, this is my first post so please be gentle.
Just a conceptual question:
We have a bucket of water with a hole in the bottom (see attached picture for clarification). If it is dropped from a sufficient height as to reach terminal velocity (assume no rotation), at what point (if any) will the water begin to flow out of the bucket? (The hole is unplugged as it is dropped)
My understanding is this:
1/ With no wind resistance we get no forces other than g, and the water will fall with the bucket (ie. be weightless) for the duration of the fall.
2/ As soon as the bucket begins falling there is a wind resistance force (upwards) which will be proportional to some function of the bucket's velocity. This force acts on the bucket (and water in the bucket experiences a force from the bucket, ie. it has weight) , but not on the water leaving the hole. Therefore the water will begin leaving the bucket as soon as it is dropped. The RATE of the flow will increase until it reaches terminal velocity, at which point it is a maximum (like if you were just standing on Earth holding a bucket?)
Is my understanding correct? Is there more to it? Any thoughts would be great.
Cheers
Just a conceptual question:
We have a bucket of water with a hole in the bottom (see attached picture for clarification). If it is dropped from a sufficient height as to reach terminal velocity (assume no rotation), at what point (if any) will the water begin to flow out of the bucket? (The hole is unplugged as it is dropped)
My understanding is this:
1/ With no wind resistance we get no forces other than g, and the water will fall with the bucket (ie. be weightless) for the duration of the fall.
2/ As soon as the bucket begins falling there is a wind resistance force (upwards) which will be proportional to some function of the bucket's velocity. This force acts on the bucket (and water in the bucket experiences a force from the bucket, ie. it has weight) , but not on the water leaving the hole. Therefore the water will begin leaving the bucket as soon as it is dropped. The RATE of the flow will increase until it reaches terminal velocity, at which point it is a maximum (like if you were just standing on Earth holding a bucket?)
Is my understanding correct? Is there more to it? Any thoughts would be great.
Cheers