Infinite penetration of a projectile into a granular medium
F Pacheco-Vázquez1, G A Caballero-Robledo, J M Solano-Altamirano
1CINVESTAV-Monterrey, PIIT, Nuevo León, 66600, Mexico. fpacheco@mda.cinvestav.mx
Abstract:
An object falling in a fluid reaches a terminal velocity when the drag force and its weight are balanced. Contrastingly, an object impacting into a granular medium rapidly dissipates all its energy and comes to rest always at a shallow depth. Here we study, experimentally and theoretically, the penetration dynamics of a projectile in a very long silo filled with expanded polystyrene particles. We discovered that, above a critical mass, the projectile reaches a terminal velocity and, therefore, an endless penetration.
Related Concept Videos
Projectile Motion
When an object falls under gravity and has no horizontal...
Projectile Motion: Example
When we speak of the range (R) of a projectile on level...
Motion of a Projectile
Horizontal motion, governed by the initial kick, maintains a constant velocity throughout the flight of the soccer ball.
Impact: Problem Solving
By designating the launch point as the origin and utilizing kinematic equations, the vertical component of the projectile's velocity at the point of impact is...
The Principle of Superposition and the Gravitational Field
Projectile Motion: Equations
Any projectile motion problem can be solved by using the following strategy:


