Some remarks on projectile motion with a linear resistance force
Physics Education
2023-10-04 v1
Abstract
In this article we revisit the projectile motion assuming a retarding force proportional to the velocity, . We obtain an analytical expression for the set of maxima of the trajectories, in Cartesian coordinates, without using the Lambert function. Also, we investigate the effect of the parameter on the radial distance of the projectile showing that the radial distance oscillates from a certain critical launch angle and find an approximate expression for it. In our analysis, we consider the impact of the parameter in the kinetic energy, the potential energy, the total energy and the rate of energy loss, and in the phase space. Our results can be included in an intermediate-level classical mechanics course.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2310.01776,
title = {Some remarks on projectile motion with a linear resistance force},
author = {C. A. Morales and J. H. Muñoz and C. E. Vera},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.01776},
year = {2023}
}
Comments
13 pages, 7 figures