- #1
hyperddude
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Homework Statement
Say there is a wall with width [itex]w[/itex] meters and height [itex]h[/itex] meters. There is a wind with velocity v m/s blowing on the wall at a 45 degree angle. The collisions of the air molecules with the wall are perfectly elastic. What is the magnitude of the force on the wall? (The density of air is 1.2 kg/m^3).
Homework Equations
[itex]Δp = FΔt[/itex] (p is momentum)
The Attempt at a Solution
In one second, an air particle moves v meters. The area of the wall is wh, so the volume of the air that hits a surface in one second is vwh. The density is 1.2kg/m^3, so the mass would be 1.2*vwh. My next step would be to find the change in velocity, which I think is [itex]v\sin{45°} + v\sin{45°} = \sqrt{2}v[/itex].
So, the change in momentum would be [itex]mv = 1.2\sqrt{2}v^2wh[/itex]. The time is 1 second, so the force would be [itex]1.2\sqrt{2}v^2wh[/itex] Newtons. Is my method correct?