APPLICATIONS

Dynamics/Escape Velocity
Dynamics
One famous formula in dynamics due to Newton is 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎.
Example. (Problem 17, page 67) In the motion of an object
through a certain medium (air at certain pressures for
example), the medium furnishes a resisting force
proportional to the square of the velocity of the moving
object. Suppose a body falls, due to the action of gravity,
through the medium. Let 𝑡 represent time, and 𝑣 represent
velocity, positive downward. Let 𝑔 be the usual constant
acceleration of gravity, and let 𝑤 be the weight of the body.
Use Newton's law, force equals mass times acceleration,
to conclude that the differential equation of motion is
𝑤 𝑑𝑣
= 𝑤 − 𝑘𝑣 2
𝑔 𝑑𝑡
where 𝑘𝑣 2 is the magnitude of the resisting force furnished
by the medium.
𝑤
Solution. Newton’s formula says that 𝑚𝑎 = 𝐹. Now, 𝑚 =
𝑔
𝑑𝑣
and 𝑎 = . On the other hand, the force acting on the body
𝑑𝑡
is its weight minus the resisting force 𝑘𝑣 2 . Therefore, 𝑚𝑎 =
𝑤 𝑑𝑣 2
𝐹 becomes = 𝑤 − 𝑘𝑣 .
𝑔 𝑑𝑡
Example. (Problem 18, page 68) Solve the differential
equation of the last example, with the initial condition that
2 𝑤
𝑣 = 𝑣0 when 𝑡 = 0. Introduce the constant 𝑎 = to
𝑘
simplify the formulas.
Solution. By separation of variables, we have
𝑤𝑑𝑣
= 𝑔𝑑𝑡
(𝑤 − 𝑘𝑣 2 )
2 2
Let 𝑘𝑣 = 𝑤 sin 𝜃. Then 2𝑘𝑣𝑑𝑣 = 2𝑤 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃.
Substitute:
𝑤 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2
= 𝑔𝑑𝑡
𝑘𝑣 𝑤 cos 𝜃
 𝑤 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= 𝑔𝑑𝑡
𝑘𝑣 cos 𝜃
𝑤 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
1/2
= 𝑔𝑑𝑡
𝑘 𝑤
𝑘
sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃
𝑤 1/2
𝑘
sec 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 = 𝑔𝑑𝑡
𝑎 sec 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 = 𝑔𝑑𝑡
𝑎 ln | sec 𝜃 + tan 𝜃| = 𝑔𝑡 + 𝑐
To find 𝑐, we substitute 𝑡 = 0 to this equation and also to
the equation 𝑘𝑣 2 = 𝑤 sin2 𝜃. We get 𝑣0 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃0 and
 𝑎 ln |sec 𝜃0 + tan 𝜃0 | = 𝑐
𝑎 ln | sec 𝜃 + tan 𝜃| = 𝑔𝑡 + 𝑎 ln | sec 𝜃0 + tan 𝜃0 |
1 + sin 𝜃 1 + sin 𝜃0
𝑎 ln = 𝑔𝑡 + 𝑎 ln
cos 𝜃 cos 𝜃0
𝑣 𝑣0 𝑣 2
But sin 𝜃 = and sin 𝜃0 = . Also, cos 𝜃 = 1 − 𝑎
𝑎 𝑎

𝑣0 2
and cos 𝜃0 = 1− 𝑎
. Therefore,
𝑣 𝑣0
1+ 𝑎
1+ 𝑎
𝑎 ln = 𝑔𝑡 + 𝑎 ln
𝑣 2 𝑣0 2
1− 𝑎
1− 𝑎
Let us continue to simplify.
𝑣0 2
1+ 𝑣 1− 𝑎
𝑎
𝑎 ln × 𝑣0 = 𝑔𝑡
𝑣 2
1+ 𝑎
1− 𝑎

Example. (Problem 21, page 68) A long, very smooth board

is inclined 10𝑜 with the horizontal. A weight starts from rest
10 ft from the bottom of the board and slides downward
under the action of gravity alone. Find how long it will take
the weight to reach the bottom of the board and determine
Τ 2
the terminal speed. Use 𝑔 = 32 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐 (Why not 9.8
𝑚Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 ?)
𝑤 sin 10𝑜

𝑜
𝑤 𝑑𝑣
𝑤 sin 10 =
𝑔 𝑑𝑡
𝑤 𝑑𝑣
= 𝑔 sin 10𝑜 = 0.1736 𝑔 = 5.556
𝑑𝑡
 𝑣 = 5.556𝑡 + 𝑐
Since the body starts from rest, then 𝑣 = 0 when 𝑡 = 0.
These initial conditions give us 𝑐 = 0. Therefore,
𝑣 = 5.556𝑡
𝑑𝑠
= 5.556𝑡
𝑑𝑡

𝑠 = න 5.556 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = 2.778𝑡 2 + 𝑐

𝑠 = 0 when 𝑡 = 0. Therefore, 𝑠 = 2.778𝑡 2 . Set 𝑠 = 10.

Then 𝑡 = 1.9 sec.
Escape velocity
Normally, when an object is projected vertically up from a
certain initial velocity, it will return to earth. However, when
the initial velocity is large enough, the object will continue to
move up and escape the earth.

According to Newton's law of gravitation, the acceleration of

a body (on earth) is inversely proportional to the square of
its distance from the center of the earth. Let us use the
following notations:
𝑟 = Distance from the object to the center of the earth (a
variable)
𝑅 = Radius of the earth (a constant, approximately equal to
3960 miles)
𝑎 = acceleration
𝑣 = velocity
𝑡 = time
Newton's law of gravitation, in mathematical form, is
𝑘
𝑎=− 2
𝑟
where 𝑘 is the proportionality constant. The positive
direction is taken to be upwards and so the effect of gravity
is to decrease the velocity. This explains the negative sign,
i.e., acceleration is negative (vertically down).
On the surface of the earth, 𝑎 = −𝑔 and 𝑟 = 𝑅. Therefore,
𝑘
𝐸𝑞𝑛 1 − 𝑔 = − 2
𝑅
Equation (1) gives us 𝑘 = 𝑔𝑅2 . Hence,
2
𝑘 𝑔𝑅
𝑎=− 2=− 2
𝑟 𝑟
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑣
Now, 𝑎 = , and by the chain rule, = =𝑣 .
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑟
Therefore, substitution gives
2
𝑑𝑣 𝑔𝑅
𝑣 =− 2
𝑑𝑟 𝑟
Separation of variables gives
𝑑𝑟
𝑣𝑑𝑣 = −𝑔𝑅2 2
𝑟
𝑣 2 𝑔𝑅2
= +𝑐
2 𝑟
2
2
2𝑔𝑅
𝑣 = + 𝑐′
𝑟
To determine 𝑐′, let us assume that the object leaves the
surface of the earth with an initial velocity of 𝑣0 . At this
instant, 𝑡 = 0 and 𝑟 = 𝑅. Therefore,
2
𝑣0
= 2𝑔𝑅 + 𝑐′
′ 2
Therefore, 𝑐 = 𝑣0 − 2𝑔𝑅. Substitution to the general
solution gives us
2
2
2𝑔𝑅 2
𝑣 = + 𝑣0 − 2𝑔𝑅
𝑟
We see that if 𝑣02 − 2𝑔𝑅 is non-negative, then the velocity 𝑣
of the object is always positive. This means that the object
will continue to move up and escape the earth. Again, this
will happen if 𝑣02 − 2𝑔𝑅 ≥ 0.
The value of 𝑣0 must therefore be at least equal to 2𝑔𝑅
This value is called the escape velocity on earth.
2
The value of 𝑔 on earth is 𝑔 = 32.16 ft/𝑠𝑒𝑐 or 6.09 ×
−3 2
10 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠/ sec . Using this value, the escape velocity
is found to be 6.95 miles/sec.
Example. The acceleration of gravity on the surface of the
planet Mars is 0.38𝑔, where 𝑔 is the acceleration of gravity
on earth. The radius of Mars is 2,100 miles. The escape
velocity on Mars is computed to be 3.1 miles/sec.