Friday, February 10, 2012

XXXXXXXX
MTH-304
Section 01
Mini-Project 01: The Speed at Which Raindrops Fall

Part I) Background: Falling Bodies

In this project I am going to investigate the speed of raindrop when wind resistance is considered and
when it is not. And, in the process, I will answer one of the questions I have always had since I was a
child. That is, if rain drops fall from so high why don’t they injure a person on the ground since they
would be traveling so fast?

The model I will use for the velocity of a falling object will all be based on Newton's Second Law of
Motion, which states that force equals mass times acceleration or, F= m ⋅ a.

In the above model F is the force exerted on an object of mass m, causing the object to have an
acceleration of a.

Acceleration is also defined to be the derivative of velocity.

dv
So,= ′(t )
a v= where v = v(t) and v is the velocity at time t.
dt
dv
Thus Newton's Law can be rewritten as, F = m ⋅ a = m ⋅ v′(t ) = m ⋅ .
dt

The primary force on a falling body is gravity (i.e. the pull of the Earth's mass an object). The first model I
will use for a falling body will consider gravity to be the only force on the object (i.e. I will not consider
wind resistance for this model).

It is known through experimentation that (near the surface of the Earth) the force of gravity on an
object is proportional to the mass of the object.

The above is modeled by the equation, F= m ⋅ g , where g is a constant. The value of the constant g is
known by experimentation to be approximately 32.2 secft .

Equating our two formulas for the force F and dividing by m we obtain a differential equation:

dv dv dv
F =F , m ⋅ =m ⋅ g , m ⋅ =m ⋅ 32.2, =32.2.
dt dt dt

Assume that our object was initially at rest at time or t = 0, then our initial condition is v(0) = 0 (which
means that at time zero the velocity is zero).

Together with the differential equation, we have an initial value problem for the velocity function v(t).

The equation is separable equation, so separating the variables we have, =

dv 32.2 ⋅ dt.
Solving for v(t ), ∫ dv
= ∫ 32.2 ⋅ dt , v(t ) + C=
1 32.2 ⋅ t + C 2, let C1 + C=
2 K where K is some arbitrary constant,
Then we have, v(=
t ) 32.2 ⋅ t + K .

To solve this initial value problem of v(0) = 0 for K we simply substitute the values for t and v(t) into the
above equation. Giving us, v(= t ) 32.2 ⋅ t + K , v(0)
= 32.2 ⋅ 0 + K , =
0 0 + K, K
= 0.

Thus v(t) for the initial conditions specified above is, v=

(t ) 32.2 ⋅ t .

This solution for a velocity function leads us to a second differential equation because the velocity v is
ds
itself the derivative of the distance function s = s(t), (i.e. v= ′(t )
(t ) s= ).
dt

Substituting the equation for v(t) into the above equation gives me a differential equation for s(t),

ds
v(t ) =32.2 ⋅ t , s′(t ) =32.2 ⋅ t , =32.2 ⋅ t.
dt

The equation is separable equation, so separating the variables we have, ds

= 32.2 ⋅ t ⋅ dt.

32.2 ⋅ t 2
Solving for s(t ), ∫=
ds ∫ 32.2 ⋅ t ⋅ dt , v(t ) +=
C1 + C 2, let C1 +=
C 2 K where K is some arbitrary constant,
2
32.2 ⋅ t 2
=
Then we have, s(t ) + K.
2

Assume that our object was initially at rest at time or t = 0, then our initial condition is s(0) = 0 (which
means that at time zero the displacement was zero).

To solve this initial value problem of s(0) = 0 for K we simply substitute the values for t and s(t) into the
32.2 ⋅ t 2 32.2 ⋅ 02
above equation. Giving us, s(t ) = + K , s(0) = + K, 0 = 0 + K, K =
0.
2 2
32.2 ⋅ t 2
Thus v(t) for the initial conditions specified above is, s(t ) = .
2
Now let’s use our equations in an example:

Using this model for distance as a function of time, compute how long (in seconds) it would take
a raindrop to fall from a height of 3000 feet. How fast would it be traveling when it hit the
ground? Give your answer first in feet per second, and then convert it to miles per hour. What
would happen if you got hit with a raindrop traveling at this speed? Is this consistent with your
experience with rain?

Solution: To solve for the time is takes for a raindrop to fall 3000 feet we simply substitute 3000
for s(t) then solve for t.
1
32.2 ⋅ t 2 32.2 ⋅ t 2 2  6000   6000  2
This gives, s(t ) = + K , 3000 = , t =  , t =  , t  13.65 sec.
2 2  32.2   32.2 
 To solve for the velocity of a raindrop after falling 3000 feet we simply substitute13.65 for t in
our equation for v(t).

This gives, v(t ) =32.2 ⋅ t , v(t ) =32.2 ⋅13.65 =439.53 secft .

Translating the above to miles

hr
gives, 439.53 secft × 5280
1mile
ft
× 3600sec
1 hr
 299.68 miles
hr

From my experience with being hit by rain it seems that they could not be going so fast of the
impact would be painful and it is not. So what is going on?

Part II) Falling Bodies: With Air Resistance

Now let us investigate a more sophisticated model for a falling body, one that takes into account the
resisting force of the air through which the object falls. The usual physical assumption is that the force of
air resistance is proportional to some power of the velocity, but the particular power (first, second, or
other) depends on the particular object.
We consider raindrops falling from a cloud 3000 feet above the ground. If the raindrop is small, say a
drop of diameter 0.003 inches (or 0.00025 feet), a size found in a drizzle, the force of air resistance is
modeled well by a multiple of the first power of the velocity. In other words, the resisting force can be
described by, Fr =−k ⋅ v for some positive constant k. (The minus sign indicates that the force is in the
direction opposite to the velocity) When combined with the force of gravity, Fg= m ⋅ g this yields the
total force on the raindrop, F = Fg + Fr = (m ⋅ g ) − (k ⋅ v) .

dv
We recall Newton's Second Law of Motion, F= m ⋅ .
dt

Equating our two formulas for the force F above and dividing by m, we find a new differential equation
dv k k
for velocity, = g − ⋅ v, let c = with c being an arbitrary constant.
dt m m

dv
With our initial condition, v(0) = 0, we obtain our new initial value problem, = g − c ⋅ v, v(0) = 0.
dt

Experimental evidence gives an approximate value of 52.6 sec −1 for  c , when distances are in feet and the
drops are drizzle size. The constant c must be in reciprocal seconds in order for the units to multiply
properly. The unit of g is per seconds square while the unit for v is per second (i.e. if we do not multiply
v by a unit of reciprocal seconds then g – cv would not make any sense).

dv
Thus, the differential equation becomes and initial value problem, = 32.2 − 52.6 ⋅ v, v(0) = 0.
dt
 263 
161 161  − ⋅t 
Solving this equation using Maple gives, v=
(t ) − e 5 
.
263 263
  263 
161 161  − ⋅t 
Plot of: v=
(t ) − e 5 

263 263

The above plot seems to correspond more with reality (i.e. the raindrops fall and reach maximum
velocity quickly, thus they are not hitting you will the fill force as mentioned previously when not
considering air resistance).

The limiting value of the velocity as time increases is called the terminal velocity. We will find this
velocity in two different ways:

1. Using the solution above

2. From the differential equation

 161 161  − 263 ⋅t  


161
Using 1) Taking the limit of v(t) as t approaches zero we have, lim  − e 5   = .
t →∞  263 263 
  263
161 ft 161 ft 1mile 3600sec
Thus, the terminal velocity is sec
 .612167 sec
ft
or sec
× 5280 ft × 1 hr  .417387 miles
hr
263 263

dv dv
Using 2) Using the differential equation = 32.2 − 52.6 ⋅ v, we can substitute 0 for , because at that
dt dt
point there is no change in velocity and thus we are at terminal velocity.

32.2
Thus, 0 =32.2 − 52.6 ⋅ v, −32.2 =−52.6 ⋅ v, v =  0.612167 sec
ft
, or v =0.612167 sec
ft 1mile
× 5280 ft
× 3600sec
1 hr
 0.417387 miles
hr
52.6
Part III) Modeling Large Raindrops

For large raindrops, say with diameter 0.004 feet (this is a size typical of drops in a thunderstorm), the
force of air resistance is better modeled as a multiple of the square of the velocity. The differential
dv
equation now has the form = g − a ⋅ v 2 . Where a is another constant. In this case, the experimental
dt
evidence yields a value for a of 0.115. The units for the constant a are in reciprocal feet (ft −1 ). The
reason for this is so that the units will multiply and cancel properly.

dv
With our initial condition, v(0) = 0, we obtain our new initial value problem, =32.2 − 0.115 ⋅ v 2 , v(0) =0.
dt
The limiting value of the velocity as time increases is called the terminal velocity. We will find this
velocity in two different ways:

1. From the differential equation

2. Solving the differential equation and letting time grow large

dv dv
Using 1) Using the differential equation =32.2 − 0.115 ⋅ v 2 we can substitute 0 for , because at that
dt dt
point there is no change in velocity and thus we are at terminal velocity.
1
 32.2  2
Thus, 0 =
32.2 − 0.115 ⋅ v , −32.2 =
2
−0.115 ⋅ v , v =

2
  16.7332 sec .
ft

 0.115 
Or, v = 16.7332 sec
ft 1mile
× 5280 ft
× 3600sec
1 hr
 11.409 miles
hr

dv  23 
Using 2) Solving, =32.2 − 0.115 ⋅ v 2 , with v(0) =0, using Maple gives, v(t ) = 2 70 ⋅ tanh  ⋅ t 70  .
dt  100 
  23 
Taking the limit of v(t) as t approaches zero we have, lim  2 70 ⋅ tanh  ⋅ t 70   = 2 70. .
t →∞
  100 
Thus, the terminal velocity is 2 70 secft  16.7332 secft or 2 70 secft × 5280
1mile
ft
× 3600sec
1 hr
 11.409 miles
hr
.

 23 
Plot of v(t ) =
2 70 ⋅ tanh  ⋅ t 70  :
 100 
Time to Reach Terminal Velocity

A. The time it takes for the small “drizzle” raindrop in Part II to reach terminal velocity is:

 263 
161 161  − ⋅t 
Plot of: v=
(t ) − e 5 

263 263

Using the above plot I estimate that the time that the “drizzle” raindrop reached terminal
velocity is about .15 seconds (the point at which v does not seem to increase).

B. The time it takes for the large “thunderstorm” raindrop in Part III to reach terminal velocity is:

 23    23    23 
Plot of: v(t ) =
2 70 ⋅ tanh  ⋅ t 70  , v(t ) =
floor  2 70 ⋅ tanh  ⋅ t 70   , and v(t ) =
ceil  2 70 ⋅ tanh  ⋅ t 70  
 100    100    100 

Using the above plot I estimate that the time that the “large” raindrop reached terminal velocity
is about 2.25 seconds (the point at which v does not seem to increase).
Estimating the Time it takes both raindrops to hit the ground from 3000 feet:

We will assume that the velocity is constant during the whole duration of the fall.

A. The time it takes for the small “drizzle” raindrop in Part II to hit the ground is:

Assuming that the drop travels at its terminal velocity the whole 3000 feet, which is .612167 secft .

s 3000
=
Using, v =
, where v is velocity and s is displacement, we have, .612167 =, .612167 ⋅ t 3000, ...
t t
3000
... t = , t  4900.6235 seconds or about 81.677 minutes.
.612167

B. The time it takes for the large “thunderstorm” raindrop in Part III to hit the ground is:

Assuming that the drop travels at its terminal velocity the whole 3000 feet, which is 16.7332 secft .

s 3000
=
Using, v =
, where v is velocity and s is displacement, we have, 16.7332 =, 16.7332 ⋅ t 3000, ...
t t
3000
... t = , t  179.2843 seconds or about 2.988 minutes.
16.7332

In Part I above we see that the time it takes to fall 3000 feet, when not including air resistance or drop
size, is about 13.65 seconds. This result is 4886.9735 seconds shorter (or about 359 times smaller) than
the results above in Part II for the small “drizzle” size raindrop, and 165.6343 seconds shorter (or about
13 times smaller) than the results above in Part III for the large “thunderstorm” size raindrop.