Resisted Motion query (1 Viewer)

[vds700]

If you have a particle of mass m dropped from a height, where the air resistance is proportional to the square of the velocity, would the equation of motion be:
1)R = ma =mg - mkv^2 or
2)R = ma =mg - kv^2 ?

I'm a bit confused because in Fitzpatrick, some of the examples have an m in front of the kv^2 and one does have an m in front of the kv^2.

 

[kony]

don't worry about it. in an exam, it will always be specified, through having a question like.. "show that the equation of motion is represented by ..."

though, yes, you're right. both are possible. k could very well be k'm, where k' is another constant.