Projectile with Air resistance problem

In summary: I'm sorry I don't quite understand :/, if the dimensions are incorrect, what would I have to do?In summary, the resistance to motion of a projectile is proportional to its speed, and its terminal velocity when falling vertically is 19.6 m/s. In order to determine the constant k in terms of mass m, the equation g/19.6 = k is incorrect and the correct equation is (g-a)/19.6 = k, where a is the acceleration of the projectile. When solving for the equation of motion for a projectile thrown vertically upwards with a speed of 6 m/s, the equation should be rewritten as kv-g=dv/dt, where kv represents air resistance and g represents gravity.
  • #36
haruspex said:
The problem is the lack of units for the 19.6. What units should that have? So what units will the 1/19.6 have?
m/s^-1 as its terminal velocity?

Thank you for the amount of help you've given me!
 
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  • #37
ZenchiT said:
m/s^-1 as its terminal velocity?

Thank you for the amount of help you've given me!
m/s, or ms-1 (but not m/s-1) is right for the 19.6. So what should it be for 1/19.6?
 
  • #38
ZenchiT said:
Part a) F=mg and F=kv

Therefore mg=kv and v=19.6 (terminal velocity)
k = mg/v
k = mg/19.6

Part b)

Equation of motion -> -mg-kv = ma
(Sub in k =mg/v)
-2mg = ma
a = -2g
dv/dt = -2g
v = -2gt

Or maybe instead of subbing in k=mg/v It should have been mg/19.6?

Voila! Surely that's correct right?!
Well, surely that is incorrect! (sorry to rain on your parade). The initial velocity is given as +6 m/s and your formula says initial velocity = 0!
Your equation of motion is correct but you are not solving the ODE correctly. Hint: try separation of variables.
 

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