Question

Next we will study the effects of air resistance. Perform the following simulations to answer the following questions.

1. Click on the eraser to clear the trajectories. With the cannon selected at the automatic diameter setting, launch the cannon at an angle of 80 degrees. Next, click on the air resistance option to add air resistance. Without change any other setting for the cannon, launch the cannon. Is there much of a difference in the trajectories?

2. Now clear the trajectories using the eraser button. Increase the diameter of the cannon significantly. Launch the larger cannon at the same angle without air resistance to observe the trajectory. Next, launch the larger cannon at the same angle with air resistance. Is there much of a difference in the trajectories. Does increased surface area affect the amount of air resistance on an object?

Answer 1

Yes , with the addition of air resistance the trajectories do change. Due ro addition of air drag ,the acceleration of the object changes ,leading to different trajectories. Thus a larger cannon with air resistance will also produce different trajectories.

Of course ,increased surface area increases the drag force due to air ,slows it furthur down. This can be seen when a polythene is put in air ,it experiences more drag or A spherical sphere traveling in water will feel more drag if it's surface area is more.