9/18/21, 1:36 AM Southern Illinois University

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

THUSHARI
JAYASEKERA - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

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Classical
Machanics - PHYS 310

Class Meets on MWRF 8.00 am - 8.50 am

TEXT: Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems -

THORNTON/MARION

Office Hours - TBA (Neckers 487)

       

Lecture
4

In the last lecture, we have applied the

Newton's laws to investigate the dynamics of a
block sliding on an inclined plane
(both with
friction and frictionless). In both cases, the
total force is constant throught out the
motion. In that case, we can
analyze the
motion by applying the Kinematic equations.
But, in general, the force does not have to be
a constant.
In this lecture, we will discuss about one
such non-constant force, the Retarding forces.
We will learn in this problem, use of
approximation methods when the problem becomes
complicated.

4.1 More about the Horizontal motion

of an object with a retarding force

4.2 Retarding forces on a Vertical

Motion

4.3 Terminal Velocity

4.4 Projectile Motion with no

Retarding Forces

4.5 Projectile Motion with Retarding

Force

4.6 Numerical Solutions

4.1 More about the Horizontal

motion of an object with a retarding force

In the last lecture, we talked about the motion of an

object on a horizontal surface, which is affected by a
velocity dependent
retarding force.

We found out how the velocity and the position depend on

time t.

------------------------- (4.1)  

   

Let's say we want to find the velocity

as a function of time. One way to that is: to combine
the above two equations as:

As shown above, you can combine the two equations and

get the velocity as a function of dispacement.

We can also get this relation by the folowing

approach:

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The second method (Just using the

chain rule) may come useful in solving other
problems in the future.

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  4.2
Effect
of a Retarding
Motion on a
Vertical
Motion

Find
the
displacement
and velocity
of a particle
undergoing
vertical
motion in a
medium having
a retarding
force
proportional
to the
velocity.

Now there is
no any initial
velocity in
the horizontal
direction,
neither does
it have any
horizontal
force. The
whole dynamics
will be in
the
vertical
direction.

Let us
consider that
the particle
is falling
downward with
an initial
velocity v0,
from a height
h in a
constant
gravitational
field. We
consider the
Newton's
equation in
the y
direction.

Let's pick the

coordinate
system as
shown in the
figure.

The
gravitational
force is in
the negative z
direction. As
the object is
moving in the
negative z
direction, the
retarding
force is in
the
positive z
direction.

Now we have:

Now
by integrating
the above
equation:

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This
gives:

By
substituting
the
integration
constant in
the above
equation:

---------------------
(4.1)        

The
question ans
both the
velocity and
the position
as a function
of time. We
found the
velocity as a
function of
time. Now
let's
integrate the
last equation
one more time
to get the
position.

Using the
initial
conditions,
(at t=0, z=h)

which
gives:

4.3
Terminal
Velocity

According to
the equation
4.1, we see
the as time
becomes very
long, the
object gets a
terminal
velocity vt.
(which is
equal to
-g/k).
What
does that
mean?

The retarding
force acting
on the
particle, and
retarding
force has
become equal
to the force
coming due to
gravity.
Retarding
force
is a
velocity
dependent
force and now
that no force
acting on the
particle,
there is no
acceleration.
Velocity doe
not increase.
The
particle
has thus come
to a terminal
velocity.

If you start
with a
velocity that
is larger than
the terminal
velocity, the
velocity
decreases
until you
reach the
terminal
velocity. If
you
start with
the zero
velocity
(or  a
velocity less
than g/k), the
velocity
increases to
reach the
terminal
velocity.

Basically,
what happens
is, If you
start with a
higher
velocity,
Starting
resistive
force is
large. Then
the resistive
force
decrase
the velocity
of the object,
resulting a
decrease in
the resistive
force. At one
point,
Resistive
force become
equal to
the
Gravitational
force... Thus
the object is
in
equilibrium.
Velocity will
no longer
change. The
Retarding
force will no
longer
change.
This is
therefore a
TERMINAL
VELOCITY

4.4
Projectile
Motion with No
Retarding
Forces.

We
have talked
about the
motion of an
obOject in the
horizontal
direction, and
then the
motion of an
object in the
vertical
direction.
Now
we are going
to discuss the
combination,
the effect of
retarding
force in the
Projectile
Motion.

Before we do
that, let me
summarice some
points from
the Projectile
Motion with no
air
resistance,

In previous
classes, we
have analyzed
this problem
with no air
resistance. It
is not hard to
get the x
position and y
position as a
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function of
time. (By
solving the
Kinematics
equations or
by integrating
the Newton's
equations)

-------------------
(4.2)   

We
can use these
two equations
to find out
the other
knowns about
the projectile
motion. For
example, Let's
say you need
to find the
range of the
projectile: We
follow the
procedure as:

We know, at
t=0, y=0; The
y coordinate
again becomes
zero at t=T,
(That is where
the x
coordinate
equals to the
range R as
shown
in the
figure). By
applying the
y=0 condition
in equation
4.2:

That
means, at time
t=T, the
projectile
y-coordinate
becomes zero.
at t=T, the
x-coordinate
of the
projectile
equals to R,
the range of
the
projectile. We
can use the
equation (4-2)
to find R:

Notice that the maximum range occurs when the inclined

angle equals
45 degrees.

Anyways, finding various unknown quantities related to

the above
problem is
pretty
straight-forward.

4.5 Projectile Motion with No

Retarding
Forces.

Now we are going to consider the same problem: Yet there

are velocity
dependant
retarding
forces acting
on the
particle. (the
forces
caused
by
air-resistance
etc).

OK,
Let's write
the equations of motion in the same way we did earlier.

We have the
initial
conditions:

Through
out the
motion,
projectile has
a retarding
force (which
is assumed
here to be
proportional
to the
instantaneous
velocity).

So the
equations of
motion become:

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We
can integrate
the equation
again to find
the
x-coordinate
of the
position of
the
projectile.

-----------------
(4.3)        

(Essentially,
this equals to
the example
2.4 from the
text)

Now By
integrating
the
y-direction
equation and
using the
initial
conditions, we
can get the
y-coordinate
of the
position of
the
projectile
as,

-------------------
(4.4)     

Now
if you want to
calculate the
Range in the
previous
problem: What
you need to do
is, find the
time T when
the projectile
hits the
ground (that
is when y=0;
by making y=0
in the
equation
(4-3)), and
then use that
time in
equation (4-4)
to find the x
position as
the
projectiles
hits the
ground, which
is named as
the Range (R)
of the
projectile. Will that procedure work here?

OK, By
applying the
condition for
the projectile
to hit the
ground (y=0)
in the
equation
(4-4): we get
the time T as:

-------------------
(4.5)     

But
the problem
is, we cannot
apply eq (4-5)
in eq. (4-3)
and solve for
the
x-position.
Those are
transcendental
equations. We
need
to use an
approximate
mathods to
find a
solution.

4.6 Projectile Motion with

Retarding
Forces.

Following
I show the
results
from  a
Numerical
solution to
the abpve
problem.

https://www2.physics.siu.edu/people/jayasekera/teaching/310/310_Lec4.html 5/7
9/18/21, 1:36 AM Southern Illinois University

The
Mathematica
code is
attached.
(Those who
check just
after my
class, the
code will soon
be uploaded)

The following
Mathematica
CDF player
will allow you
to change the
parameters and
look at the
difference.

Not Found
The requested URL was not found on this server.

Apache/2.4.41 (Ubuntu) Server at www2.physics.siu.edu Port 443

https://www2.physics.siu.edu/people/jayasekera/teaching/310/310_Lec4.html 6/7
9/18/21, 1:36 AM Southern Illinois University

The
above
Mathematica
CDF code was
written by
Thushari
Jayasekera.

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Thushari Jayasekera, Assistant Professor

of Physics, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Tel: 618 453 1055 Fax: 618 453 1056

Last Updated 08/23/2013 20:59:54

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