Physlet

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The following simulation models the motion of a ball falling in air that exerts a frictional force on the ball that is in the opposite direction as the ball's velocity and has a magnitude proportional to the square of the ball's speed. The proportionality constant is k.

Notice that a ball dropped from rest eventually reaches a constant speed called the terminal speed. This is equal to mg/k where g is the acceleration due to gravity and k is a constant that is proportional to the force of air resistance at a certain speed. You can set a value of k before clicking on a link in order to observe its effect on the motion of the projectile.

Answer the following questions:

1. Suppose a skydiver is falling at her terminal speed when she pulls her 'chute. During the time interval that the chute opens, what direction is her acceleration?

2. If a projectile is projected downward with an initial speed greater than sqrt(mg/k), the object's terminal speed, is its instantaneous acceleration, at any instant before it reaches terminal speed, positive or negative?

Position vs. Time Velocity vs. Time Acceleration vs. Time

are scriptable Java Applets written by Wolfgang Christian of Davison College.