Chapter 4
Falling Bodies - a Calculator
for the Viewer
There are four topics. The common thread is vertical motion
in atmosphere.
In the first topic the differential equation for a falling
body, taking into account gravity and atmospheric resistance, is presented. When
resistance is proportional to velocity squared there is no analytical solution.
The second topic explores a method for the numerical solution
of non-linear differential equations, on the Differential Analyzer. This method
was published
in 1931 by Vannevar Bush. A spreadsheet that the user
may construct for modeling the fall of a body in atmosphere is introduced.
The third topic introduces
and makes available a corresponding web-based calculator.
In the fourth topic the user is guided through the exploration
of several applications of the calculator.
The topics of this chapter can be accessed by clicking their names.