Projectile Motion with air drag A Computer Lab for Calculus Based Physics Dr. Richard Taylor Department of Physics & Engineering Muskingum University www.muskingum.edu/~richardt
Overview Developing an Algorithm Implementing the Algorithm Kinematics Dynamics Algorithm Implementing the Algorithm MATLAB Excel Calibrating the Program Digitizing Real Data Applying the Program Determine the Initial Velocity Turn Air Drag Off for Comparison
Developing an Algorithm: Kinematics Air drag is a variable force. Therefore, acceleration is not constant! But… If the time interval is small, then acceleration can be treated as a constant.
Developing an Algorithm: Dynamics
Developing an Algorithm: Algorithm Constants & Initial Values
Implementing the Algorithm: MATLAB
Implementing the Algorithm: Excel
Calibrating the Program Find the range for the no air drag problem by hand. Find the range using the program. Reduce the time interval in the program until the ranges agree.
Digitizing Real Data
Applying the Program: Determine the Launch Speed Adjust the launch speed in the program until the two curves overlap.
Applying the Program: Turn Air Drag Off for Comparison
Materials can be downloaded from www.muskingum.edu/~richardt/aapt2013