Problem 1.

5 [Difficulty: 3]

Given: Small particle accelerating from rest in a fluid. Net weight is W, resisting force FD = kV, where V

is speed.

Find: Time required to reach 95 percent of terminal speed, Vt.

Solution: Consider the particle to be a system. Apply Newton's second law.

Basic equation: ∑Fy = may

Assumptions: FD = kV

1. W is net weight Particle

2. Resisting force acts opposite to V
y
Then W

∑F
dV W dV
y = W − kV = ma y = m =
dt g dt

dV k
or = g(1 − V)
dt W

dV
Separating variables, = g dt
1− W
k
V

dV W
( )
V t
Integrating, noting that velocity is zero initially, ∫0 1 − Wk V
= −
k
ln 1 − k
W
V = ∫0 gdt = gt

W ⎛⎜ ⎞
kgt kgt
k − −
or 1 − V = e ; V = ⎜1 − e W ⎟⎟
W
W k ⎝ ⎠
kgt
V −
But V→Vt as t→∞, so Vt = W
k
. Therefore = 1− e W
Vt

kgt
− kgt
When V
Vt
= 0.95 , then e W = 0.05 and W
= 3. Thus t = 3W/gk