Motion with variable mass
A spherical raindrop of radius a, falls from rest under gravity. It falls through a stationary cloud so that, because of condensation, its radius increases with time at a constant rate k. Find the distance fallen by the raindrop after time t.
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com December 24, 2021, 11:38 pm ad1c9bdddfhttps://brainmass.com/physics/newtons-second-law/motion-variable-mass-587927
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A spherical raindrop of radius a, falls from rest under gravity. It falls through a stationary cloud so that, because of condensation, its radius increases with time at a constant rate k. Find the distance fallen by the raindrop after time t
Let the radius of the drop at time t be r
The rate of increase of the radius is given by
As the initial radius is a and it increases in time t by Kt the radius r at time t will be
r = a + K*t
The volume of the drop at time t will be
And hence its mass will be m =
Here is the density of water.
Now according to the second law of motion the rate change of momentum is equal to the force applied and the only force acting on the drop is the gravity (neglecting air resistance).
As the mass of the drop is variable, hence taking downward direction positive, we can write
Where v is the velocity of the drop at time t (initial velocity is zero)
Substituting the value of mass from above we get
Or
Integrating this equation wrt t we get
Here C is the constant of integration.
As at t = 0; v = 0 substituting in the equation we have
Substituting this in above equation we have
Or
Or ------------------ (2)
Now if the distance fallen in time t is x then the velocity is given by v = dx/dt and hence
Integrating wrt to t we have
Where C' is constant of integration.
Or
Now as initially at t = 0; x = 0 gives
Substituting in equation above we get
Or
Or
Or
Or
This is the required distance.
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com December 24, 2021, 11:38 pm ad1c9bdddf>https://brainmass.com/physics/newtons-second-law/motion-variable-mass-587927