Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat

CAEE Project
on
Analytical Solution to the
Falling Parachutist Problem.

Submitted to- Dr. A.K. Panchal

Submitted by-
Nimesh Agrawal – U15EE013
Utkarsh Mudgal – U15EE041
Saurav Pandya – U15EE042
Problem Statement:- Analytical Solution to the Falling Parachutist Problem.
A person of mass 68.1 kg is sitting in a hot air balloon. When the hot air balloon is stationary
in the air, the person jumps out of it with a parachute. Devise a method to compute the
velocity of the person prior to opening the chute. The drag offered by air has a coefficient
equal to 12.5 kg/s.

Modelling:
Fu

Fd

If we consider a falling parachutist, the following forces are acted upon it during its fall.
Newton’s second Law of Motion can be used to determine the terminal velocity and the
velocity at any instant near the earth’s surface. This model can be further derived by expressing
the acceleration as the time rate of change of velocity.

𝑑𝑣 𝐹
=
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
For a body falling within the vicinity of the earth the net force is composed of two opposing
forces: the downward pull of gravity, Fd and the upward force of air resistance, Fu.

F = Fd + Fu

Fd = mg and Fu = -cv .
Where g=9.8ms-2
c= proportionality constant called drag coefficient (kg/s).
 m= mass of parachutist.
v= instantaneous velocity

The parameter ‘c’ accounts for properties of the falling object, such as shape or surface
roughness, that affect air resistance. For this particular case, c might be a function of type of
jumpsuit or the orientation used by parachutist during free fall.

𝑑𝑣 𝑚𝑔 − 𝑐𝑣
=
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
𝑑𝑣 𝑐𝑣
=𝑔−
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
Solving above differential equation, we get velocity as a function of time represented by the
equation :
𝑔𝑚 𝑐
𝑣(𝑡) = (1 − 𝑒 −(𝑚)𝑡 )
𝑐
The exact solution for velocity at different time intervals for the given problem is given by

𝑣(𝑡) = 53.39(1 − 𝑒 −0.18355𝑡 )

t(s) v(m/s)
0 0.0000
2 16.4045
4 27.7687
6 35.6411
8 41.0946
10 44.8724
12 47.4895
∞ 53.3900

From the data. We have noted that after sufficient long time, the parachutist attains a constant
velocity called the terminal velocity. At this velocity, the force of gravity will be balanced by the
air resistance force. Thus, the net force becomes zero and acceleration has ceased.

SOLUTION BY DIFFERENT NUMERICAL METHODS:

1) MODIFIED EULERS METHOD:
 𝑑𝑣 𝑐
=𝑔− 𝑣
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
𝑑𝑣
= 9.81 − 0.18355𝑣
𝑑𝑡
Now, Y1P =Y0 + h*f(x0,y0)

Y1C= Y0 +(h/2)*( f(x0,y0) + f(x1,y1p )

Where x1= x0 + h;

Considering x0=y0=0, and length of interval h=2,

Y1P = 0 + 2*(9.81-0.18355*0)

Y1P = 19.6200

Y1C = 0 + (2/2)*{9.81 + (9.81-0.18355*19.62)}

Y1C = 16.018678

Now, Y2P = Y1C + h*f(x1, Y1C)

Y2C= Y1C + (h/2)*(f(x1, Y1C) + f(x2, Y2p ) and so on.

Similarly for next iterations, we get:

t(s) YP (m/s) YC (m/s)

2 19.620000 16.018678
4 29.758106 27.236185
6 36.857585 35.091543
8 41.829185 40.592466
10 45.310680 44.444635
12 47.748690 47.142218

2) RUNGA-KUTTA-4 (RK-4)

𝑑𝑣 𝑐
=𝑔− 𝑣
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
𝑑𝑣
= 9.81 − 0.18355𝑣
𝑑𝑡
Now,
k1=f(x0, y0)
k2=f(x0+ (h/2), y0+ (k1*h/2))
k3=f(x0+ (h/2), y0+ (k2*h/2)
k4=f(x0+h, y0+k3*h)

y1=y0 + (h/6)*(k1+2*k2 + 2*k3+k4)

Taking h=1 and x0=y0=0,

k1 = 9.81-0.18355*0

= 9.81.

k2 = 9.81-0.18355(9.81*1/2)

= 8.909687

k3 = 9.81-0.18355(8.909687*1/2)

= 8.992313

k4 = 9.81-0.18355(8.992313*1)

= 8.159461

Y1= 0 + (1/6)*(9.81 + 2*8.909687 + 2*8.992313 + 8.159461)

= 8.962244

For next iteration replace x0 with x1 and y0 with y1, where x1=x0+h.

t(s) k1 k2 k3 k4 V(m/s)
1 9.810000 8.909687 8.992313 8.159461 8.962244
2 8.164980 7.415639 7.484410 6.791217 16.421626
3 6.795811 6.172125 6.229364 5.652411 22.630159
4 5.656234 5.137133 5.184774 4.704569 27.797596
5 4.707751 4.275697 4.315349 3.915669 32.098515
6 3.918318 3.558714 3.591717 3.259058 35.678221
7 3.261263 2.961960 2.989429 2.712553 38.657653
8 2.714388 2.465275 2.488137 2.257690 41.137410
9 2.259217 2.051878 2.070906 1.879103 43.201451
10 1.880374 1.707802 1.723640 1.563999 44.919328
11 1.565057 1.421424 1.434606 1.301735 46.349137
12 1.302616 1.183068 1.194040 1.083450 47.539184
3) NEWTONS FORWARD DIFFERENCE INTERPOLATION FORMULA:
Given Data:

t(s) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
V(m/s) 0.00 16.40 27.77 35.64 41.10 44.87 47.49

Newton’s forward difference Table:

Y0 ∆Y0 ∆2Y0 ∆3Y0 ∆4Y0 ∆5Y0 ∆6Y0

0.000000 16.400000 -5.029999 1.529997 -0.439995 0.069994 0.120007

16.400000 11.370001 -3.500002 1.090002 -0.370001 0.190001

27.770000 7.869999 -2.410000 0.720001 -0.180000

35.639999 5.459999 -1.689999 0.540001

41.099998 3.770000 -1.149998

44.869999 2.620003

47.490002
𝑥−𝑥0 (𝑥−𝑥0)(𝑥−𝑥1) 𝑥−𝑥 n-1
Y= Y0 + ∆Y0 ∗ + ∆2Y0∗ + ............ + ∆nY0∗ (𝑥 − 𝑥0)(𝑥 − 𝑥1). . . .
1!∗ℎ 2!∗ℎ2 𝑛!∗ℎn

Where h=length of interval.

For our case, h=2 and x=3.

3−0 (3−0)(3−2)
Y= 0.000000 + 16.400000 ∗ 1!∗2 + (−5.029999) ∗ +.......
2!∗2

Therefore, Y= 22.607811 m/s.

VERIFYING ABOVE METHOD USING EXACT SOLUTION:

v (t) = 53.39*(1- e-0.18355*t)
For t=3s, v (t) = 53.39*(1- e-0.18355*3)
V(t)=22.60666 m/s.
 C PROGRAMS for all methods

1).MODIFIED EULERS METHOD:

#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<math.h>
#define f(x,y) (9.81-(12.5*y/68.1))
void main()
{
double x0,y0,h,i=1,n,q=100,x1,y1p,y1c;
printf("enter initial values and step size: \n");
scanf("%lf %lf %lf",&x0,&y0,&h);
printf("enter value of x where y is to be calculated: \n");
scanf("%lf",&n);
printf("x \t y1p \t y1c \n");
for(i=1;i<=q;i++)
{
x1=x0+h;
y1p=y0+h*f(x0,y0);
y1c=y0+h*((f(x0,y0)+f(x1,y1p))/2);
printf("%lf \t %lf \t %lf \n",x1,y1p,y1c);
x0=x1;
y0=y1c;
if(x1==n)
{
printf("value of y at x=%lf is %lf",n,y1c);
break;
}
}
}
OUTPUT:

2).RUNGA-KUTTA 4:

#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<math.h>
#define f(x,y) 9.81-0.18355*y
void main()
{
double x0,y0,x1,y1,i=1,n,q=100,h,k1,k2,k3,k4;
printf("enter initial values and step size: \n");
scanf("%lf %lf %lf",&x0,&y0,&h);
printf("enter value of x where y is to be calculated: \n");
scanf("%lf",&n);
printf("x \t y \t k1 \t k2 \t k3 \t k4 \t y1 \n");
for(i=1;i<=q;i++)
{
k1=f(x0,y0);
k2=f((x0+(h/2)),(y0+(k1*h/2)));
k3=f((x0+(h/2)),(y0+(k2*h/2)));
k4=f((x0+h),(y0+k3*h));
x1=x0+h;
 y1=y0+(h*(k1+2*k2+2*k3+k4)/6);
printf("%lf \t %lf \t %lf \t %lf \t %lf \t %lf \t %lf \n",x0,y0,k1,k2,k3,k4,y1);
x0=x1;
y0=y1;
if(x1==n)
{
printf("value of y at x=%lf is %lf \n",n,y1);
break;
}
}
}

OUTPUT:

3). NEWTONS FORWARD DIFFERENCE INTERPOLATION:

#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
void main()
{
int i,j,n,h;
float xp,fp,sum,p,x[10],f[10],a[10],d[10][10],fact;
printf("Enter the number of data points and difference:");
scanf("%d %d",&n,&h);
printf("enter value of x:");
scanf("%f",&xp);
printf("Input the data:");
for(i=1;i<=n;i++)
{
scanf("%f %f",&x[i],&f[i]);
}
for(i=1;i<=n;i++)
{
d[i][1]=f[i];
}
for(j=2;j<=n;j++)
{
for(i=1;i<=n-j+1;i++)
{
d[i][j]=((d[i+1][j-1])-(d[i][j-1]));
}
}
for(j=1;j<=n;j++)
{
for(i=1;i<=n-j+1;i++)
{
printf("%f\t",d[j][i]);
}
printf("\n");
}

for(j=1;j<=n;j++)
a[j]=d[1][j];
sum=a[1];
for(i=2;i<=n;i++)
{
p=1;
fact=1;
for(j=1;j<=i-1;j++)
 p=(p*(xp-x[j]));
for(j=1;j<=i-1;j++)
fact=fact*j;
sum=sum+((a[i]*p)/(fact*pow(h,(i-1))));
}
fp=sum;
printf("interpolated value of %f is %f",xp,fp);
}

OUTPUT:

Quadratic Regression using MATLAB

>>t=[1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12];
>> v=[8.96224 16.42162 22.63015 27.7975 32.0985 35.6782 38.6576 41.1374 43.2014 44.9193
46.3491 47.5391];

>> a11=length(t):
>> a12=sum(t);
>> a13=sum(t.*t);
>> a21=a12;
>> a22=13;
>> a22=a13;
>> a23=sum(t.*t.*t);
>> a31=a13;
>> a32=a23;
>> a33=sum(t.*t.*t.*t);
>> a=[a11 a12 a13;a21 a22 a23;a31 a32 a33];
>> b1=sum(v);
>> b2=sum(t.*v);
>> b3=sum(t.*t.*v);
>> b=[b1;b2;b3];
>> c=inv(a)*b

c = 3.0351 7.2033 -0.2967

>> z=3.0351+7.2033.*t-0.2967.*t.*t;

>> p= 53.39*(1- exp(-0.18355*t));

>> plot(t,z,'r',t,p,'b')

RK 4
Exact Equation
Advantages and Applications
If a human falls from a height near the earth’s surface, the acceleration due to gravity increases the
falling velocity by large extent. The drag force is insufficient to decrease the velocity. Even if the human
spreads his hands, the velocity of falling is still more than 200m/s which can kill a person. Hence, the use
of parachute helps the person to land safely as it decreases the velocity by large extent.
The drag coefficient is also dependent on the surface type and surface area of the parachute hence we
can vary the falling velocity by adjusting the following characteristics.

Minutes of Meeting
1. Meeting 1 Duration: 2 hours Date- 20/3/17
Objective: Research about the question
Plan: Various sources were looked upon including Numerical methods books and some
problems were also looked upon the internet. Finally, we decided to go with the kinematics
problem by taking an example of parachutist..
2. Meeting 2 Duration: 3 hours Date- 1/4/17
Objective: Modelling and preparation of solutions to the problem
Plan: The various aspects of the problems were considered so that we can reach to exact results.
Most effective methods which can be used to get the results were thought upon. Finally, we
circled upon 3 methods and solved the problem using each of them
3. Meeting 3 Duration: 3 hours Date- 8/4/17
Objective: Computer aided calculations
Plan: We discussed the codes and logics for each of the methods and later ran the respective
methods in C and MATLAB to get the most accurate results. Further, we also verified the plots to
know the trend of values and whether the results are continuous or not.
4. Meeting 4 Duration: 1.5 hours Date- 11/4/17
Objective: Documentation of all the data
Plan: All the dispersed data was documented. Further, graphics and diagrams were added for
better presentation. The whole project was compiled. Final proofreading was done for any small
errors.
5. Meeting 5 Duration: 30 minutes Date- 14/4/17
Objective: Discussion of work contribution and final submission of project.

Member Contribution (in %)

Nimesh Agrawal 33
Utkarsh Mudgal 33
Saurav Pandya 33