As you have seen in numerous problems, the upward vertical motion of a projectile is symmetric with its vertical downward motion, provided air resistance is ignored.
Now consider an object thrown vertically upward with a large initial velocity. Air resistance cannot be ignored! Assume air resistance to be directly proportional to the speed (this is an unimportant simplification), always opposing the direction of motion. Answer the questions below, briefly justifying your response.
Consider the forces (gravity and air resistance) acting on an object when moving upward and when moving downward. Is the magnitude of the acceleration of an object moving upward with initial speed vothe same, less or greater than that for an object moving downward with the same initial speed?
Considering your answer to the first question, do you think the time required for the object to rise is the same, less or greater than the time required to fall back to same level?
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As you have seen in numerous problems, the upward vertical motion of a projectile is symmetric with its vertical downward motion, provided air resistance is ignored.
Now consider an object thrown vertically upward with a large initial velocity. Air resistance cannot be ignored! Assume air resistance to be directly proportional to the speed (this is an unimportant simplification), always opposing the direction of motion. Answer the questions below, briefly justifying your response.