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Problem Statement

The document describes the mathematical modeling of the forces acting on a falling parachutist. It sets up a differential equation model using Newton's Second Law that accounts for the downward force of gravity and upward force of air resistance. The model is solved analytically to find the limiting terminal velocity. Numerical methods are also used to simulate the parachutist's decreasing velocity over time as air resistance increases until reaching the terminal velocity.

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Eye Iqbal
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536 views4 pages

Problem Statement

The document describes the mathematical modeling of the forces acting on a falling parachutist. It sets up a differential equation model using Newton's Second Law that accounts for the downward force of gravity and upward force of air resistance. The model is solved analytically to find the limiting terminal velocity. Numerical methods are also used to simulate the parachutist's decreasing velocity over time as air resistance increases until reaching the terminal velocity.

Uploaded by

Eye Iqbal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem Statement:

Parachutist: Two forces act on a parachutist, the attraction by the earth mg (m mass of person plus
equipment, the acceleration of gravity g=9.8 m/sec^2) and the air resistance, assumed to be
proportional to the square of the velocity v (t). Using Newtons second law of motion (mass
acceleration resultant of the forces), set up a model (an ODE for v (t)). Graph a direction field
(choosing m and the constant of proportionality equal to 1). Identify the falling velocity of a falling
parachutist by using numerical method. What is the limiting velocity?

Mathematical Model:
Newtons 2nd law of Motion States that the time rate change of momentum of a body is equal to
the resulting force acting on it.. The model is formulated as
F = m a
F=net force acting on the body (N)
m=mass of the object (kg)
a=its acceleration (m/s2)
Parachutist:

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the forces acting on a falling parachutist. F
D
is the downward force due to
gravity. F
u
is the upward force due to the resistance


m
cv mg
dt
dv
cv F
mg F
F F F
m
F
dt
dv
ma F
U
D
U D

=
=
=
+ =
=
=
v
m
c
g
dt
dv
=
This is a differential equation and is written in terms of the differential rate of change dv/dt of the
variable that we are interested in predicting.

Analytical solution of

Using linear differential equation:


Integration factor:

Solve it:


At initial condition v(0)=0

so the final solution after simplify its become


Lets defined a constant :
Mass of parachutist is 50 kg,
Gravitational force is 9.81m/s^2



g v
m
c
dt
dv
= +
}
=
dt
m
c
e I
( )
t m c
e
c
gm
t v
) / (
1 ) (

=
v
m
c
g
dt
dv
=
Result:
Time (sec) Velocity (m/s)
1 8.68
2 15.44
3 20.70
4 24.80
5 27.99
6 30.48
7 32.42
8 33.93
9 35.10
10 36.02
11 36.73
12 37.28
13 37.72
14 38.05
15 38.32
16 38.52
17 38.68
18 38.81
19 38.90
20 38.98


Numerical solution of







New Value =Old value +Slope x Step size


v
m
c
g
dt
dv
=
) (
) ( ) (
1
1
i i
i i
t t
t v t v
t
v
dt
dv

=
A
A
~
+
+
) (
) (
) ( ) (
1
1
i
i i
i i
t v
m
c
g
t t
t v t v
~

+
+
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
1 1 i i i i i
t t t v
m
c
g t v t v
(

+ =
+ +
) (
1 + i
t v
Time (sec) Velocity (m/s)
1 9.80
2 17.15
3 22.66
4 26.80
5 29.89
6 32.22
7 33.97
8 35.27
9 36.25
10 36.99
11 37.54
12 37.95
13 38.26
14 38.50
15 38.67
16 38.80
17 38.90
18 38.97
19 39.03
20 39.07

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