Hi all,
the problem i have is that there is a rotating disk with nozzles on its circumference. a material is being pushed into this rotating disk/plate and its being released from the nozzles tangentially. The disk is rotating with a certain rpm. I believe that the particle from the disk will follow a circular path in the direction of the rotating disk.
My main problem is that the disk is inside an enclosure with air being blown from the bottom and I want to make sure that the particle exiting from the disk doesnt hit the walls of the enclosure. I want to know, how can I find the longest horizontal distance , the material will travel just after leaving the disk ( with air resistance) and How big a circular path will it take ( diameter).I will appreciate the help.

thanks

Unfortunately, I don't think your basic assumption is right. The particles will travel in exactly straight lines after leaving the rotating disk unless there is some force on them to make their velocity change. This is Newton's First Law. Air resistance will somewhat slow them and will deflect their paths somewhat in the direction of the air flow, but I don't think there is any way to stop them from hitting the walls of the container based on what you have said.

The only way I know to enforce a circular motion is to have a charged object in a magnetic field. If your particles are charged and a strong magnetic field is applied pointing along the axis of the disk, then the particles may be confined to circular paths.

Hope this helps!

--Stuart Anderson