Join the Most Relevant JEE Main 2025 Test Series & get 99+ percentile! Join Now
Search any question & find its solution
Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
It is a common observation that rain clouds can be at about a kilometer altitude above the ground.
(a) If a rain drop falls from such a height freely under gravity, what will be its speed? Also calculate in $\mathrm{km} /$ $h\left(g=10 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}^2\right)$.
(b) A typical rain drop is about $4 \mathrm{~mm}$ diameter. Momentum is mass $\times$ speed in magnitude. Estimate its momentum when it hits ground.
(c) Estimate the time required to flatten the drop.
(d) Rate of change of momentum is force. Estimate how much force such a drop would exert on you.
(e) Estimate the order of magnitude force on umbrella. Typical lateral separation between two rain drops is $5 \mathrm{~cm}$. (Assume that umbrella is circular and has a diameter of $1 \mathrm{~m}$ and cloth is not pierced through.)
PhysicsMotion In One Dimension
Solution:
2298 Upvotes Verified Answer
As given that height $(h)=1 \mathrm{~km}=1000 \mathrm{~m}$, $u=0 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}, g=10 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}^2, \mathrm{~d}=4 \mathrm{~mm}$
$$
\Rightarrow r=\frac{4}{2} \mathrm{~mm}=2 \mathrm{~mm}
$$
(a) Velocity attained by the rain drop in freely falling through a height $h$.
$$
\begin{aligned}
v^2 &=u^2+2 g h, u=0 \\
v &=\sqrt{2 g h}=\sqrt{2 \times 10 \times 1000}=100 \sqrt{2} \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s} \\
&=100 \sqrt{2} \times \frac{60 \times 60}{1000} \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{hr} \\
&=360 \sqrt{2} \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h} \approx 510 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{hr} .
\end{aligned}
$$
(b) Diameter of the drop $(d)=2 r=4 \mathrm{~mm}$
So, radius of the drop $(r)=2 \mathrm{~mm}=2 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~m}$
Mass of a rain drop $(m)$
$=$ Volume $(v) \times$ density $(\rho)$
$=\frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \rho=\frac{4}{3} \times \frac{22}{7} \times\left(2 \times 10^{-3}\right)^3 \times 10^3$
$\left(\because\right.$ Density of water $\left.=10^3 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^3\right)$ $=33.5 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{~kg}$
Momentum of the rain drop $(\mathrm{P})$
$$
\begin{aligned}
&=m v=33.5 \times 10^{-6} \times 100 \sqrt{2} \\
&=47.37 \times 10^{-4} \mathrm{~kg}-\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s} \\
&=4.7 \times 10^3 \mathrm{~kg}-\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}
\end{aligned}
$$
(c) Time to required drop of $4 \mathrm{~mm}$ diameter spherical drop i.e., time to reach upper part of spherical drop on ground, i.e. time taken by the drop to travel the distance equal to the diameter $(d)=4 \mathrm{~mm}$ of the drop near the ground.
$$
\begin{aligned}
\text { Time } &=\frac{\text { distance }}{\text { speed }}=\frac{d}{v}=\frac{4 \times 10^{-3}}{100 \sqrt{2}} \\
&=0.028 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~s}=2.8 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{sec} . \\
&=2.8 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~s} \approx 30 \mathrm{~ms}
\end{aligned}
$$
(d) Force exerted by a rain drop
$$
\begin{aligned}
F &=\frac{\text { Change in momentum }}{\text { Time }} \\
&=\frac{d P}{d t} \\
&=\frac{4.7 \times 10^{-3}}{2.8 \times 10^{-5}}=168 \mathrm{~N}
\end{aligned}
$$
(e) Radius of the umbrella $(R)=\frac{1}{2} m$
Area of the umbrella $(A)$
$$
=\pi R^2=\frac{22}{7} \times\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^2=\frac{22}{28}=\frac{11}{14}=0.78 \mathrm{~m}^2
$$
Number of drops falling on umbrella simultaneously with average separation of $5 \mathrm{~cm}=5 \times 10^{-2} \mathrm{~m}$.
$$
=\frac{\pi R^2}{\left(5 \times 10^{-2}\right)^2}=\frac{0.78}{\left(5 \times 10^{-2}\right)^2}=314 \text { drops }
$$
$\therefore$ Net force exerted on umbrella by 314 drops $=314 \times 168=52752 \mathrm{~N}$.
It is equivalent to $5275 \mathrm{Kg}$ wt. which again not possible on umbrella.

Looking for more such questions to practice?

Download the MARKS App - The ultimate prep app for IIT JEE & NEET with chapter-wise PYQs, revision notes, formula sheets, custom tests & much more.