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AP Physics C
A falling object
Lets first look at the graphs of motions concerning a
object that is dropped from rest.
a(m/s/s)
v(m/s)
y(m)
vT
t(s)
With air resistance it
takes MORE TIME to
cover the displacement.
t(s)
The acceleration is NOT
constant but rather
decreases. Here the slope
decreases as TERMINAL
VELOCITY, vT, is reached.
t(s)
The acceleration will
decrease as the
object reaches a
constant speed.
kv mg
mg
mg
terminal velocity vT
k
kv
FNET ma
mg
mg kv ma
dv
a
dt
dv
mg kv m
dt
dv
mg kv m
dt
kv
dv
g
m
dt
v (t )
v 0
1
k t
dv dt
t 0
mg
m
v
k
v (t )
mg
k t
ln
v
t |t 0
k
m
|v 0
mg
mg
k
ln(
v(t )) ln(
0) t 0
k
k
m
mg
v(t )
k
k
ln(
) t
mg
m
k
mg
v ( t )
k
ln(
)
mg
k
k
)t
m
mg
v(t )
k
( )t
( k
)e m
mg
k
mg
mg m )t
v(t )
e
k
k
k
(
mg mg m )t
e
v(t )
k
k
k
(
)t
mg
m
v(t )
(1 e
)
k
( )t
mg
m
mg
v
(
t
)
(
1
e
)
v(t )
(1 e
)
k
k
k
(
)( )
mg
k
m
( )( 0 )
v
(
(
1
e
),
e
mg
0
m
v ( 0)
(1 e
), e 1
k
k
k
( )( t )
1
1
m
e
mg
0
k
( )( t )
v ( 0)
(1 1) 0m / s
e
m
e
k
mg
mg
When t is equal to 0, the
v(t )
(1 0)
velocity happens to be zero,
k
k
k
( )t
m
We use infinity to express a very long time. Remember that negative sign?
Remember that anything raised to the negative power is really in the denominator.
Since infinity is now in the denominator, we get zero. Therefore, after a very long
time the object must be moving at TERMINAL VELOCITY!