Math Is Fun Forum

Matthijs

Guest

Artillery shell

Hello all,

I'm looking for a function to calculate the altitude of an artillery shell after t seconds.

Variables are:
- Initial vertical velocity; V0
- Gravity; g = 9,81 m/s² (it's actually a constant in my case)
- Air friction, which is a function of velocity and a series of constants; f = - 0.5 •C•r•A•V²
  In which r is the air density, C is the drag coefficient, A is the surface of the object, and V is the current velocity.

Without air friction, I would be able to find the solution myself.
But I'm totally lost trying to find a solution that incorporates air friction.

help.. ?

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Artillery shell

Not too hard of a problem.  I just need to know, are you studying differential equations?

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

Matthijs

Guest

Re: Artillery shell

Well... I have been. About 12 years ago.

I know I used integrals to calculate acceleration, time dilatation etc. during interstellar-travel. As simple and fun I found it back then, my current knowledge on the subject of limits, differentials and integrals approaches zero.

Recently, I dusted off my old math book, but I lost my notes (too bad, as I had an excellent teacher).
I managed to get hold of a new math book that describes limits, differentials and integrals. Now I'm slowly eating my way back into the matter.

Matthijs

Member

Registered: 2006-08-20

Posts: 1

Re: Artillery shell

(I registered - I'm only posting this line to subscribe to the thread)

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When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem will tend to look like a nail.