The Parachute Problem

(adapted from Douglas B. Meades

ODE Models for the Parachute Problem)

Noam Goldberg
Craig Kaplan
Tucker Riley
Outline

Introduction to the Parachute Problem

Modeling the Descent
Derivation of Equations
Application of Equations
Results
The Parachute Problem

Newtons
Second Law:

F ma
x x0
v

Figure 1: Forces acting on a skydiver in flight

Mathematical Model of Falling
Object

mx' ' mg kx'

Or, in the case of the Parachute Problem:

mg k x' t td
1
mx"
mg k 2 x' t td

Equivalent First-Order System
k
v ' g v, v(0) 0,
m

x ' v, x(0) x 0 ,
Solving for Velocity v' g k v
m
k k
v' g v v' v g
m m
k
v' v g
m v' P (t )v Q(t )
(We can use an integrating factor!)

k
P (t ) , Q(t ) g
m
Integrating Factor

k k
P ( t ) dt dt t
e e m
e .
m
Finding the Integrating Constant

(General
velocity
equation)

Using the initial condition:

v ( 0) 0
We can solve for A:
m
A
k
Velocity Equation Before Deployment

mg
k1
t
v(t ) e m
1, t td

k1
Solving for Position

x(t ) v(t )dt

Using our velocity mg u-substitution,
equation,
k
t and
x(0k) x ,
the initialcondition:
e m 1dt

0
we seethat k

mg m t
2 e 1dt. k
m kg k m t
x(t ) x0 2 t 1 e
k m
Solving for Velocity After Deployment

At t=td we have a new initial condition:

v(t d ) v0
Plugging this value into the general velocity
equation (the one we had before plugging in
ICs), we obtain:
k
mg td
v(t d ) v0 gAe m
k
Solving for A, we get:
k
td m v0
A e m

k g
Solving for Velocity After Deployment

Plugging A into the original velocity equation, we find

that: k k
mg mg m2 td t 2
t d t
v(t ) e em v0
k2 k2
To get v0, we plug t=td into our equation for
velocity before deployment:

mg m td
k1
v 0 v(t d ) e 1
k1
Solving for Velocity After Deployment

Velocity Equation for Whole Jump

mg k1 t
e m 1 t td
k
1

v(t )
mg
k1
t
k2
t t mg
k2
t t d
1e e 1 t td
d d

k e
m m m

k2
1
Applications of Derived Equations

h = 3500m
td = 60 seconds

k1 1 k2 5 m
g 9.8 2
m 6 m 3 s
1. When the chute is pulled, what is the elevation
and velocity of the skydiver?
2. How long is the total jump?
3. At what velocity does the skydiver hit the
ground?
1. Elevation and velocity at time of deployment

36 9.8 1 ( 60 )
1
x(60) 3500 (60) 1 e 6
1 6
x 60 325 m

6 9.8 6 ( 60)
1

v(60) e 1
1

v 60 58.8 m/s
2. Total length of jump
Setting x(tf) = 0, solve for tf

9 9.8 5
5
tf
x(t f ) 0 324.784 t 1 e 3
25 3
f

t f 55.835 60 116 s
3. Final velocity

Solve for v(116)

6 9.8
1
60
5
116 60 3 9.8
5
116 60
v(116) e 6
1e 3
e 3
1
1
5



v(116 ) 5.88 m/s
Graph of negative velocity versus time
-velocity (m/s)

time (s)
Applications of Derived Equations
For
h = 3500m
td = 60 seconds
k1 1 k2 5 m
g 9.8 2
m 6 m 3 s

1. x(td) = 325m, v(td) = -58.8 m/s 130 mi/hr

2. tf = 116 s
3. v(tf) = -5.88 m/s
Conclusion
Verified that Meades equations are correct by
deriving them ourselves
Used derived equations to find various
velocities and positions, and total time of a
typical jump (Meade)

FOR SALE:
PARACHUTE
ONLY USED ONCE
NEVER OPENED
SMALL STAIN
Works Cited

Blanchard, Paul, Robert L. Devaney, and

Glen R. Hall. Differential Equations.
Third Edition. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole,
2006. Print.
Meade, Douglas B. ODE Models for the
Parachute Problem. Siam Review 40.2
(1998): 327-332. Web. 27 Oct 2010.