They are afraid to embrace the power of the graph. OK, let's do a simple experiment and use a graph to find a mathematical model. Constant Acceleration We are going to measure distance and time ...

and acceleration = velocity change ÷ time. To find the distance travelled, look at the area under the graph. In the first 10 seconds this is the area of the triangle, ½ × 10 s × 40 m/s = 200 m.

The normal equations in your physics course are created with the assumption of constant acceleration ... small time steps. During each of these time steps I can assume that the drag force has ...