MTH 3311 –p.

78, #4
Spring 2017
Pat Rossi Name

cm
(p. 78 Ex 4) An oil droplet of mass 0.2 gm falls from rest in air. For a velocity of 40 sec ; the force due to
air resistance is 160 dynes. Assuming that the force of air resistance is proportional to the velocity:
a) Find the velocity and distance traveled as a function of time.
b) Find the limiting velocity
First, we establish our conventions regarding direction:

Positive Direction "

Hence:
m = 0:2 gm
cm
v (0 sec) = 0 sec (Because “the oil droplet . . . falls from rest”)
Let R be the resistance due to air.
cm cm
When v = 40 sec ; R = 160 dyn (Because “For a velocity of 40 sec (in the negative direction), . . . air
resistance is 160 dynes.”)
Also: “The force of air resistance is proportional to the velocity” i.e. R _ v
) R = kv; where k is the constant of proportionality.
For “future reference,” we will …nd the constant of proportionality right now.
Recall: When v = cm
40 sec ; R = 160 dyn = 160 gseccm
2

Also: R = kv
) 160 gmseccm
2 =k cm
40 sec
160 g mseccm
2
) cm
40 sec =k

)k= 4 gm
sec (For “future reference”)
Next:
Since there is more than one force acting on the object, let’s draw a force diagram of the object.

w
From the force diagram, the total force F = w + R;
where w is the weight of the object and R is the force on the object, due to air resistance.
Remark: To allow ourselves to model this relationship as a di¤erential equation, we will employ a standard
trick:
**********************************************************************************************
Note well: When more than one force is acting on a free falling object, our approach will usually be to set
F (the sum or all forces on the object) equal to ma:

(sum of all forces) = |{z}

ma
| {z }
F F

This is a standard approach for velocity exercises!!!

**********************************************************************************************
Our “Standard Trick” yields the equation w + R = |{z}
ma (Eq. 1)
| {z }
S u m o f a ll F
fo rces

dv
Recall: acceleration is the derivative of velocity. i.e., a = dt

Thus, Eq. 1 can be rendered:

dv
w + kv = m
| {z }
w+R | {zdt}
ma

This is a di¤erential equation in v:

Let’s solve it!
m dv
dt + kv = w

dv k w
) dt + v=
m m
|{z}
| {z }
P (t) Q(t)

R R
=e ( )dt = e
k k
P (t)dt mt
Compute the integrating factor, e m

Multiplying both sides by the integrating factor, we have:

k dv k k w k
e mt + e mt v= mt
dt m me
h k
i k
d mt
w mt
) dt e v = me

R h k
i R k
d mt
w mt
) dt e v dt = me dt
k w m k w k
)e mt v= e mt = mt
m k ke +C
k w k
i.e. e mt v= mt
ke +C
w k
)v= k + e m tC
Now, let’s …nd the constant C
cm
Recall: v (0 sec) = 0 sec
cm w k w
) 0 sec = v (0 sec) = k + e m (0 sec) C = k +C
cm w
i.e. 0 sec = k +C

2
 w
)C= k

w w mk
t
)v= k + ke
w
To …nd k; recall two things:
First, k = 4 gm
sec

Next, the weight, w = mg; where g is the acceleration due to gravity.

i.e., w = mg = (0:2 gm) cm
980 sec 2 = 196 gm cm
sec 2

w 196 g m cm
sec2 cm
Thus, k = 4 gsec
m = 49 sec
w cm
i.e., k = 49 sec

k 4 gsec
m
20
Finally, observe that m = 0:2 gm = sec

cm cm 20
Therefore, velocity is given by: v (t) = 49 sec + 49 sec e sec t

R
To …nd the distance travelled, recall that the vertical position s = v (t) dt
R R cm cm 20 cm cm sec 20
s (t) = v (t) dt = 49 sec + 49 sec e sec t dt = 49 sec t + 49 sec 20 e sec t +C

cm 49 20
= 49 sec t+ cm e sec t +C
20
cm 49 20
i.e., s (t) = 49 sec t+ cm e sec t +C
20

No “initial position” is given in the problem, so we will assume that the initial position is 0 cm
cm 49 20 49
sec (0 sec)
Thus, 0 cm = s (0 sec) = 49 sec (0 sec) + 20 cm e +C = 20 cm +C
49
i.e., 0 cm = 20 cm +C
49
)C= 20 cm

cm 49 20 49
Thus, the vertical position is given by: s (t) = 49 sec t+ cm e sec t cm
20 20

cm 49 20 49
The distance travelled is: js (t)j = 49 sec t+ cm e sec t cm
20 20

b) Find the limiting velocity

20 ts
limiting velocity = limt!1 v (t) = limt!1 49 cm
s e 1 = 49 cm
s

limiting velocity: 49 cm
s