  The inertial response of a particle to turbulent flows is a problem of
relevance to a wide range of environmental and engineering problems. The
equation most often used to describe the force balance is the Maxey-Riley
equation, which includes in addition to buoyancy and steady drag forces, an
unsteady Basset drag force related to past particle acceleration. Here we
provide a historical review of how the Maxey-Riley equation was developed and
how it is only suited for studies where the Reynolds number is less than unity.
Revisiting the innovative mathematical methods employed by Basset (1888), we
introduce an alternative formulation for the unsteady drag for application to a
broader range of particle motions. While the Basset unsteady drag is negligible
at higher Reynolds numbers, the revised unsteady drag is not.
