# Terminal Velocity of Body under Fall Retarded Proportional to Velocity

## Theorem

Let $B$ be a body falling in a gravitational field.

Let $B$ be falling through a medium which exerts a resisting force $k \mathbf v$ upon $B$ which is proportional to the velocity of $B$ relative to the medium.

Then the terminal velocity of $B$ is given by:

$v = \dfrac {g m} k$

## Proof

Let $B$ start from rest.

The differential equation governing the motion of $B$ is given by:

$m \dfrac {\d^2 \mathbf s} {\d t^2} = m \mathbf g - k \dfrac {\d \mathbf s} {\d t}$

Dividing through by $m$ and setting $c = \dfrac k m$ gives:

$\dfrac {\d^2 \mathbf s} {\d t^2} = \mathbf g - c \dfrac {\d \mathbf s} {\d t}$

By definition of velocity:

$\dfrac {\d \mathbf v} {\d t} = \mathbf g - c \mathbf v$

and so:

 $\displaystyle \int \dfrac {\d \mathbf v} {\mathbf g - c \mathbf v}$ $=$ $\displaystyle \int \rd t$ $\displaystyle \leadsto \ \$ $\displaystyle -\dfrac 1 c \, \map \ln {\mathbf g - c \mathbf v}$ $=$ $\displaystyle t + c_1$ $\displaystyle \leadsto \ \$ $\displaystyle \mathbf g - c \mathbf v$ $=$ $\displaystyle \mathbf c_2 e^{-c t}$

When $t = 0$ we have that $\mathbf v = 0$ and so:

$\mathbf c_2 = \mathbf g$

Hence by taking magnitudes:

$v = \dfrac g c \paren {1 - e^{-c t} }$

Since $c > 0$ it follows that $v \to \dfrac g c$ as $t \to \infty$.

Thus in the limit:

$v = \dfrac g c = \dfrac {g m} k$

$\blacksquare$