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A passenger in an automobile observes that raindrops make an angle of \(30^{\circ}\) with the horizontal as the auto travels forward with a speed of \(60 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h}\). Compute the terminal (constant) velocity \(\mathbf{v}_{r}\) of the rain if it is assumed to fall vertically.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The terminal velocity of the rain is \(9.64 \mathrm{~m/s}\)

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Relative Motion

Recognize that the observed angle of the rain by the passenger is due to the forward motion of the car. Since the passenger in the car is in motion, it seems like the rain is falling at an angle. If the car was stationary, the rain would look like it is falling vertically.
02

Setting Up the Geometric Relationship

The angle \(30^{\circ}\), the car's speed, and the rain's terminal velocity form a right triangle. The horizontal component is the car's speed, and the vertical component is the rain's velocity. The relationship can be derived from the tangent of the angle, which is the opposite side (rain's velocity) divided by the adjacent side (car's speed). Therefore, \(\tan(30^{\circ}) = \frac{{v_r}}{{v_c}}\), where \(v_r\) is rain's velocity and \(v_c\) is the car's speed.
03

Solve for the Rain's Velocity

Rearrange the equation from Step 2 to solve for \(v_r\): \(v_r = v_c \times \tan(30^{\circ})\). Then, plug in the given values and solve: \(v_r = 60 \mathrm{~km/h} \times \tan(30^{\circ})\). For convenience, convert the car's speed from kilometers per hour to meters per second: \(v_c = 60 \mathrm{~km/h} \times \frac{1000 \mathrm{~m}}{1 \mathrm{~km}} \times \frac{1 \mathrm{~h}}{3600 \mathrm{~s}} = 16.7 \mathrm{~m/s}\). Hence, \(v_r = 16.7 \mathrm{~m/s} \times \tan(30^{\circ})\). Since \(\tan(30^{\circ}) = 0.577\), therefore, \(v_r = 9.64 \mathrm{~m/s}\). This is the terminal velocity of the rain.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Terminal Velocity
Terminal velocity is a fascinating concept often encountered in the study of physics, specifically when dealing with falling objects. When an object falls through a fluid, like air, it accelerates until the net force acting on it is zero. This means the force due to gravity is balanced by the drag force of the air.
  • At this point, the object moves at a constant speed, known as terminal velocity, because the forces are balanced.
  • In our exercise, the rain hitting the moving car is already at terminal velocity if it is assumed to fall vertically with a constant speed.
Understanding this concept helps explain why a passenger in the car sees the rain at an angle and why the rain doesn’t speed up infinitely but instead settles into this steady state called terminal velocity.
Trigonometry in Physics
Trigonometry is vital in physics for solving problems related to angles and lengths. It is especially useful when analyzing problems of relative motion, like in our exercise where the rain's angle is observed from a moving car.
  • This problem forms a right triangle, with the rain's vertical velocity and the car's horizontal speed creating the triangle's sides.
  • The tangent function helps us relate these sides because \( an(30^\circ)\) gives the ratio of the rain's vertical speed to the car's speed.
By understanding trigonometry, we can calculate the unknown component of the rain's velocity that isn't immediately apparent just by observation. This makes trigonometry an invaluable tool in predicting how objects move with respect to each other.
Rainfall Dynamics
Rainfall dynamics explores how rain appears when observed from different frames of reference. From a stationary point, rain seems to fall straight down. However, when observed from a moving vehicle, rain may appear to fall at an angle because of relative motion.
  • The way we perceive rain is an excellent practical example of relative velocity, a fundamental concept in dynamics.
  • In our exercise, the passenger's perspective introduces a unique viewpoint on the rain's movement, making it an interesting application of relative motion.
The understanding of how rain appears in various scenarios aids in practical applications, such as designing windshield wipers and improving rain gear, making everyday life more convenient.

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