Question

A sky diver with a mass of 70kg jumps from an aircraft. The aerodynamic drag force acting on the sky diver is known to be Fd=kV^2, where k=0.25N*s^2/m^2. Determine the maximum speed of free fall for the sky diver and the speed reached after 100m of fall. Plot the speed of the sky diver as a function of time and as a function of distance fallen

Answer 1

Answer:

$v_{max}=52.38\frac{m}{s}$

$v_{100}=33.81$

Explanation:

the maximum speed is reached when the drag force and the weight are at equilibrium, therefore:

$\sum{F}=0=F_d-W$

$F_d=W$

$kv_{max}^2=m*g$

$v_{max}=\sqrt{\frac{m*g}{k}} =\sqrt{\frac{70*9.8}{0.25}}=52.38\frac{m}{s}$

To calculate the velocity after 100 meters, we can no longer assume equilibrium, therefore:

$\sum{F}=ma=W-F_d$

$ma=W-F_d$

$ma=mg-kv_{100}^2$

$a=g-\frac{kv_{100}^2}{m}$ (1)

consider the next equation of motion:

$a = \frac{(v_{x}-v_0)^2}{2x}$

If assuming initial velocity=0:

$a = \frac{v_{100}^2}{2x}$ (2)

joining (1) and (2):

$\frac{v_{100}^2}{2x}=g-\frac{kv_{100}^2}{m}$

$\frac{v_{100}^2}{2x}+\frac{kv_{100}^2}{m}=g$

$v_{100}^2(\frac{1}{2x}+\frac{k}{m})=g$

$v_{100}^2=\frac{g}{(\frac{1}{2x}+\frac{k}{m})}$

$v_{100}=\sqrt{\frac{g}{(\frac{1}{2x}+\frac{k}{m})}}$ (3)

$v_{100}=\sqrt{\frac{9.8}{(\frac{1}{2*100}+\frac{0.25}{70})}}$

$v_{100}=\sqrt{\frac{9.8}{(\frac{1}{200}+\frac{1}{280})}}$

$v_{100}=\sqrt{\frac{9.8}{(\frac{3}{350})}}$

$v_{100}=\sqrt{1,143.3}$

$v_{100}=33.81$

To plot velocity as a function of distance, just plot equation (3).

To plot velocity as a function of time, you have to consider the next equation of motion:

$v = v_0 +at$

as stated before, the initial velocity is 0:

$v =at$ (4)

joining (1) and (4) and reducing you will get:

$\frac{kt}{m}v^2+v-gt=0$

solving for v:

$v=\frac{ \sqrt{1+\frac{4gk}{m}t^2}-1}{\frac{2kt}{m} }$

Plots: