Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics, Structure, and Change

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1429290196
ISBN 13: 978-1-42929-019-7

Foundations - Topic B - Energy - Exercises - Page 24: B.2(b)

Answer

$\frac{mg}{6πηR}$

Work Step by Step

There are two forces acting on the particle of mass $m$: $1.$ The gravitational force $(mg)$ directed vertically downward, $2.$ and the drag force $(6πηRs)$ directed vertically upward. Now, according to Newton’s second law of motion, $m\frac{ds}{dt}=mg-6πηRs$ or, $\frac{ds}{dt}=g-\frac{6πηRs}{m}$ ..............$(1)$ Let, $\gamma=\frac{6πηR}{m}$. Then eq, $1$ becomes $\frac{ds}{dt}=g-\gamma s $ or, $\frac{ds}{dt}=-\gamma(s-\frac{g}{\gamma})$ or, $\frac{ds}{(s-\frac{g}{\gamma})}=-\gamma dt$ Integrating both side, we get $\int_{0}^{s(t)}\frac{ds}{(s-\frac{g}{\gamma})}=-\gamma\int_{0}^{t}dt$ or, $\ln \bigg({\frac{s(t)-\frac{g}{\gamma}}{-\frac{g}{\gamma}}}\bigg)=-\gamma t$ or, ${\frac{s(t)-\frac{g}{\gamma}}{-\frac{g}{\gamma}}}=e^{-\gamma t}$ or, $s(t)=\frac{g}{\gamma}(1-e^{-\gamma t})$ or, $s(t)=\frac{mg}{6πηR}(1-e^{-\frac{6πηR}{m} t})$ For large values of $t$ $(t\to \infty )$ , the term $e^{\frac{6πηR}{m} t}\to0$, and the particle reaches a terminal velocity: $s_\infty=\frac{mg}{6πηR}$ Therefore, the terminal velocity of the particle is given by $\frac{mg}{6πηR}$
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