- #1
Bestfrog
Homework Statement
A ball is dropped from rest at height ##h##. We can assume that the drag force from the air is in the form ##F_d=-m \alpha v##.
I know then the position in function of the height $$y(t)=h-\frac{g}{\alpha} (t-\frac{1}{\alpha} (1 - e^{-\alpha t}))$$
If I take ##\alpha t<<1##, the equation above (expanding ##e^{-\alpha t}## with Taylor's series) becomes $$y(t)=h-\frac{g}{\alpha} (t-\frac{1}{\alpha} (1 -(1 - \alpha t + \frac{(\alpha t)^2}{2}...)))$$
If I would neglect the terms of higher order in ##\alpha t## I have ##y(t) \sim h##, but Morin's Introduction to classical mechanics says ##y(t) \sim h - \frac{(gt)^2}{2}## for ##\alpha t<<1##. How is it possible?