Derivation of the Velocity as a Function of Time for an

Object Experiencing Rayleigh Drag Forces

Dr. Lawlis
September 22, 2019

Abstract
An object moving through a fluid will experience a drag force that is proportional
to velocity or velocity squared, depending on the turbulence of the fluid through which
it passes. The Reynolds number, which depends on the density of the fluid, the velocity
of the object in the fluid, the diameter of the object, and the kinematic viscosity of
the fluid, determines whether flow is laminar or turbulent. At low Reynolds numbers,
flow is laminar, and the drag force is governed by Stoke’s equation, where drag force
is proportional to velocity. Most AP Physics problems involve the Stoke’s equation,
because the form of the equation is easy to integrate when solving for velocity. However,
most real world problems involve turbulent flow, where drag force is proportional to
velocity squared. We will derive an expression for velocity as a function of time using
Rayleigh’s equation, where drag force is proportional to velocity squared.

Definition of variables
Let m be the mass of the spherical object
Let v be the velocity of the sphere through the fluid
Let CD be the drag coefficient
Let ρ be the fluid density
Let FD be the drag force on the sphere
Let v0 be the initial velocity
Let vf be the final velocity
Let vt be the terminal velocity
Let a be the acceleration of the sphere

1
Derivation
The Rayleigh drag force is given by the following equation.
1
FD = ρCD Av 2 (1)
2
To simplify matters, we will incorporate all of our constants into a single constant.
1
b = ρCD A (2)
2
Referring to the forces in Figure 1, we can write a force balance equation with the positive
direction being downward. X
F = ma (3)
dv
mg − bv 2 = m (4)
dt
After rearranging the equation to group like terms, we obtain
b Zt Z vf
dv
dt = mg (5)
m 0 v0 b
− v2

Integrating Equation 5 is not trivial, so we need to resort to some mathematical tricks. The
integral on the right hand side of Equation 5 has the form
du 1 a+u
Z  
f (u) = = ln +C (6)
a2 − u2 2a a−u
according to a table of integrals. To see why this is so, we can make a substitution using
partial fraction decomposition. Any fraction with a quadratic denominator with real roots
can be decomposed into two fractions with undetermined coefficients A and B:
1 1 A B
= = + (7)
a2 −u2 (a + u)(a − u) a+u a−u

To find A, multiply both sides by (a + u) and substitute u = −a.

1 a+u
 
=A+B· (8)
a−u a−u
!
1 a−a
=A+B· (9)
a − (−a) a − (−a)
Therefore,
1
A= (10)
2a
Similarly, it can be shown that
1
B= (11)
2a

2
 " #
Z
du 1 Z du Z
du
It follows that = + , and now the functions can be inte-
a2 − u 2 2a a+u a−u
grated.
" #
du 1 Z du du 1 1  a + u 
Z Z  
= + = [ln|a + u| − ln|a − u|] = ln  (12)
a2 − u2 2a a+u a−u 2a 2a a − u

mg
r
Now, substitute a = and u = v, and Equation 5 has the same form as Equation 6.
b
 q vf   q  q 
Z vf s  mg + v  
s mg
+ vf mg
− v0 
dv b b

  b  b b
mg = ln  q mg  = · ln  q mg
  q   (13)
v0 b
− v2 4mg  − v

4mg  − vf mg
+ v0 
b v0 b b

At terminal velocity, the acceleration is zero, and from Equation 4 we have

mg
r
vt = (14)
b
Substituting Equation 14 into Equations 1 and 13 yields
 
bt 1  (v + v )(v − v ) 
t f t 0 
= · ln  (15)
(vt − vf )(vt + v0 ) 

m 2vt 
 
2bvt t  (v − v )(v + v ) 
 t f t 0 
− = ln  (16)
 (vt + vf )(vt − v0 ) 

m
Exponentiating each side yields

(vt − vf )(vt + v0 )
= e−2bvt t/m (17)
(vt + vf )(vt − v0 )

We define the constant β as follows.

vt − v0
β= (18)
vt + v0
Equation 17 can then be rearranged and cast in its final form:
 2bvt t

1 − βe− m
vf = vt 
2bvt t
 (19)
1 + βe− m

3
 To get height as a function of time, we need to integrate the velocity.
 2bvt t

−
Z t
1 − βe m
h(t) = H0 − vt  2bvt t
 dt (20)
0 1 + βe− m

 2bvt t 2bvt t

Z t
1 + βe− m − 2βe− m
h(t) = H0 − vt 
2bvt t
 dt (21)
−
0 1 + βe m

 2bvt t

Z t −
2βe m
h(t) = H0 − vt 1 − 2bvt t
 dt (22)
0 1 + βe− m

 2bvt t

Z t
e− m
h(t) = H0 − vt t + 2βvt 
2bvt t
 dt (23)
0 1 + βe− m

For the last integral, we can make a substitution to make life easier.
2bvt t 2βbvt − 2bvt t
u = 1 + βe− m , du = − e m dt (24)
m
2bvt t
Z t
e− m m Z t du
2βvt 2bvt t dt = − (25)
0 1 + βe− m b 0 u
Therefore, the final expression for height as a function of time is
 2bv t

− mt 
m  1 + βe


h(t) = H0 − vt t − ln  (26)
b  1 + β 

4
Figure 1: A sphere of mass m and cross-sectional area A falls through a viscous fluid with
velocity v. Gravitational force is represented by the arrow labeled mg, and the Rayleigh
drag force is represented by the arrow labeled bv 2 .