terminal speed of two raindrop
a large raindrop has twice diameter of a small raindrop, which one has the largest terminal speed and why??
係咪用 D=0.5 CpAv^2 來explain??
2 個解答
- tcLv 61 十年前最愛解答
Yes, you are right. We can apply this formula:
D = 1/2 C ρ A v²
where D = drag force
C = drag coefficient
ρ = density
A = cross-sectional area
v = speed
To find the terminal velocity, setting the drag force D equal to the gravity of the raindrop, i.e.
D = mg = ρ(4/3 π r³) g, where r is the radius of the raindrop
=> ρ(4/3 π r³) g = 1/2 C ρ π r² v²
=> v = √ [(8/3 r g ) / C]
Hence, v is proportional to the square root of the radius of the raindrop.
Therefore, the bigger raindrop has higher terminal speed.
Note: The drag coefficient, C, is only approximately constant for the raindrops of different sizes. The shape of the raindrops are only approximately spherical.
- 志仁Lv 61 十年前
I do not understand your last sentence.
The force addes on the raindrop is F=mg-bv, m is the mass of the raindrop.
m=pV, V is the volume, p is density.b is the air resistance constant depend on the surface area. V=4/3(pi)r^3. (Volume of a sphere)
Asume the two raindrops are sphere in shape.
And the terminal speed, F=0. => mg=bv, b=2(pi)r^2 x c (Area of half of sphere), c is a constant.
v=mg/b=p 4/3(pi)r^3 / c [2(pi)r^2] = p/c x (2r/3)
v is proprotional to r, that mean if the r is double, the terminal speed is double.
2007-06-14 16:27:12 補充:
Since p, c are the same for the same matter.