Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

A 1.4kg falling object (subject to the effects of aerodynamicdrag) is 1800m high

ID: 2262233 • Letter: A

Question

A 1.4kg falling object (subject to the effects of aerodynamicdrag) is 1800m high, traveling at 34 m/s and has not yet reached terminal speed. It first reaches terminal speed at a heightof 1340 m and the terminal speed is 37.3 m/s. a) How much thermal (internal) energy is generated through theaction of the drag force as the object falls from 1800m to1340m? b) Repeat a for the fall between 1340m and 500m. All solutions must be based on work and/or energymethods. A 1.4kg falling object (subject to the effects of aerodynamicdrag) is 1800m high, traveling at 34 m/s and has not yet reached terminal speed. It first reaches terminal speed at a heightof 1340 m and the terminal speed is 37.3 m/s. a) How much thermal (internal) energy is generated through theaction of the drag force as the object falls from 1800m to1340m? b) Repeat a for the fall between 1340m and 500m. All solutions must be based on work and/or energymethods.

Explanation / Answer

a)
work done by friction + workdone by gravity = change in kinetic energy

Wg + Wf = 0.5*m*(v2^2-v1^2)

1.4*9.8*(1800-1340) + Wf = 0.5*1.4*(37.3^2-34^2)


6311.2 + Wf = 164.703

Wf = -6146.497 J

work done by friction = thermal energy generated = 6146.497 J

b)

work done by friction + workdone by gravity = change in kinetic energy

Wg + Wf = 0.5*m*(v2^2-v1^2)

1.4*9.8*(1340-500) + Wf = 0 (since velocity is not chinging)


Wf = -11524.8 J

work done by friction = thermal energy generated = 11524.8 J