Well, the energy lost is force times distance and the force of drag is a square function of velocity. You should be able to put that together (with, in this case, gravity) to find the energy loss due to drag.Necm said:The force of drag is proportional to velocity, but with a projectile velocity isn't constant, so how could i calculate the energy lost due to drag?
The projectile in question is being shot straight upwards, so that may make this problem much more simple.
The drag force on a projectile can be calculated using the equation Fd = 1/2 * ρ * v2 * Cd * A, where ρ is the density of the fluid through which the projectile is moving, v is the velocity of the projectile, Cd is the drag coefficient, and A is the cross-sectional area of the projectile.
The formula for calculating the energy lost due to drag is E = Fd * d, where Fd is the drag force and d is the distance travelled by the projectile.
As air density increases, the drag force also increases, resulting in a greater amount of energy being lost by the projectile. This is because the projectile has to push through more air molecules, creating more resistance and slowing it down.
The drag coefficient of a projectile is affected by its shape, surface texture, and the properties of the fluid through which it is moving (such as air density and viscosity). The angle of attack and speed of the projectile also play a role in determining the drag coefficient.
Yes, the energy lost due to drag can be minimized by using streamlined shapes, smooth surface textures, and reducing the speed and angle of attack of the projectile. Additionally, using materials with low density and high strength can also help to reduce the energy lost in a projectile due to drag.