Category Archives: Engineering Mathematics Blog

Problem 6-12: The approximate total distance traveled by planet Earth since its birth

Taking the age of Earth to be about 4×10⁹ years and assuming its orbital radius of 1.5 ×10¹¹ m has not changed and is circular, calculate the approximate total distance Earth has traveled since its birth (in a frame of reference stationary with respect to the Sun).

Solution:

First, we need to compute for the linear velocity of the Earth using the formula below knowing that the Earth has 1 full revolution in 1 year

v=r\omega

where $r=1.5\times 10^{11} \ \text{m}$ and $\omega = 2\pi \ \text{rad/year}$ . Substituting these values, we have

\begin{align*} v & = r \omega \\ \\ v & = \left( 1.5\times 10^{11} \ \text{m} \right)\left( 2 \pi \ \text{rad/year} \right) \\ \\ v & = 9.4248\times 10^{11} \ \text{m/year} \end{align*}

Knowing the linear velocity, we can compute for the total distance using the formula

\Delta x = v \Delta t

We can now substitute the given values: $v = 9.4248\times 10^{11} \ \text{m/year}$ and $\Delta t = 4\times 10^{9} \ \text{years}$ .

\begin{align*} \Delta x & = v \Delta t \\ \\ \Delta x & = \left( 9.4248\times 10^{11} \ \text{m/year} \right) \left( 4\times 10^{9} \ \text{years} \right) \\ \\ \Delta x & = 3.7699 \times 10^{21} \ \text{m} \\ \\ \Delta x & = 4 \times 10^{21} \ \text{m} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Problem 6-11: Calculating the centripetal acceleration of a runner in a circular track

A runner taking part in the 200 m dash must run around the end of a track that has a circular arc with a radius of curvature of 30 m. If the runner completes the 200 m dash in 23.2 s and runs at constant speed throughout the race, what is the magnitude of their centripetal acceleration as they run the curved portion of the track?

Solution:

Centripetal acceleration $a_{c}$ is the acceleration experienced while in uniform circular motion. It always points toward the center of rotation. It is perpendicular to the linear velocity $v$ and has the magnitude

a_{c}=\frac{v^{2}}{r}

We can solve for the constant speed of the runner using the formula

v=\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}

We are given the distance $\Delta x = 200 \ \text{m}$ , and the total time $\Delta t = 23.2\ \text{s}$ . Therefore, the velocity is

\begin{align*} v & =\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t} \\ \\ v & = \frac{200\ \text{m}}{23.2\ \text{s}} \\ \\ v & = 8.6207\ \text{m/s} \end{align*}

From the given problem, we are given the following values: $r=30\ \text{m}$ . We now have the details to solve for the centripetal acceleration.

\begin{align*} a_{c} & = \frac{v^{2}}{r} \\ \\ a_{c} & = \frac{\left( 8.6207\ \text{m/s} \right)^2}{30\ \text{m}} \\ \\ a_{c} & = 2.4772\ \text{m/s}^{2} \\ \\ a_{c} & = 2.5\ \text{m/s}^{2} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Problem 6-10: The angular velocity of a person in a circular fairground ride

A fairground ride spins its occupants inside a flying saucer-shaped container. If the horizontal circular path the riders follow has an 8.00 m radius, at how many revolutions per minute will the riders be subjected to a centripetal acceleration whose magnitude is 1.50 times that due to gravity?

Solution:

Centripetal acceleration $a_{c}$ is the acceleration experienced while in uniform circular motion. It always points toward the center of rotation. The relationship between the centripetal acceleration $a_{c}$ and the angular velocity $\omega$ is given by the formula

a_{c}=r\omega^{2}

Now, taking the formula and solving for the angular velocity:

\omega = \sqrt{\frac{a_{c}}{r}}

From the given problem, we are given the following values: $r=8.00\ \text{m}$ and $a_{c}=1.50\times 9.81 \ \text{m/s}^2=14.715\ \text{m/s}^2$ . If we substitute these values in the formula, we can solve for the angular velocity.

\begin{align*} \omega & = \sqrt{\frac{a_{c}}{r}} \\ \\ \omega & = \sqrt{\frac{14.715\ \text{m/s}^2}{8.00\ \text{m}}} \\ \\ \omega & = 1.3561\ \text{rad/sec} \\ \\ \end{align*}

Then, we can convert this value into its corresponding value at the unit of revolutions per minute.

\begin{align*} \omega & = 1.3561\ \frac{\text{rad}}{\text{sec}} \times \frac{60\ \text{sec}}{1\ \text{min}}\times \frac{1\ \text{rev}}{2\pi \ \text{rad}} \\ \\ \omega & = 12.9498\ \text{rev/min} \\ \\ \omega & = 13.0 \ \text{rev/min} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Problem 6-9: A construct your own problem on College Physics involving angular motion

Construct Your Own Problem

Consider an amusement park ride in which participants are rotated about a vertical axis in a cylinder with vertical walls. Once the angular velocity reaches its full value, the floor drops away and friction between the walls and the riders prevents them from sliding down. Construct a problem in which you calculate the necessary angular velocity that assures the riders will not slide down the wall. Include a free body diagram of a single rider. Among the variables to consider are the radius of the cylinder and the coefficients of friction between the riders’ clothing and the wall.

Problem 6-8: An integrated problem involving circular motion, momentum, and projectile motion

Integrated Concepts

When kicking a football, the kicker rotates his leg about the hip joint.

(a) If the velocity of the tip of the kicker’s shoe is 35.0 m/s and the hip joint is 1.05 m from the tip of the shoe, what is the shoe tip’s angular velocity?

(b) The shoe is in contact with the initially stationary 0.500 kg football for 20.0 ms. What average force is exerted on the football to give it a velocity of 20.0 m/s?

(c) Find the maximum range of the football, neglecting air resistance.

Solution:

Part A

From the given problem, we are given the following values: $v=35.0\ \text{m/s}$ and $r=1.05\ \text{m}$ . We are required to solve for the angular velocity $\omega$ .

The linear velocity, $v$ and the angular velocity, $\omega$ are related by the equation

v=r\omega \ \text{or} \ \omega=\frac{v}{r}

If we substitute the given values into the formula, we can directly solve for the value of the angular velocity. That is,

\begin{align*} \omega & = \frac{v}{r} \\ \\ \omega & = \frac{35.0\ \text{m/s}}{1.05\ \text{m}} \\ \\ \omega & = 33.3333\ \text{rad/sec} \\ \\ \omega & = 33.3 \ \text{rad/s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

Part B

For this part of the problem, we are going to use Newton’s second law of motion in term of linear momentum which states that the net external force equals the change in momentum of a system divided by the time over which it changes. That is

F_{net} = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t} = \frac{m\left( v_f - v_i \right)}{t}

For this problem, we are given the following values: $m=0.500\ \text{kg}$ , $t=20.0\times 10^{-3} \ \text{s}$ , $v_{f}=20.0\ \text{m/s}$ , and $v_{i}=0$ . Substituting all these values into the equation, we can solve directly for the value of the net external force.

\begin{align*} F_{net} & = \frac{\left( 0.500\ \text{kg} \right)\left( 20.0\ \text{m/s}-0\ \text{m/s} \right)}{20.0\times 10^{-3}\ \text{s}} \\ \\ F_{net} & = 500\ \text{N} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

Part C

This is a problem on projectile motion. In this particular case, we are solving for the range of the projectile. The formula for the range of a projectile is

R=\frac{v_{0}^2 \sin 2\theta}{g}

We are asked to solve for the maximum range, and we know that the maximum range happens when the angle $\theta$ is $45^\circ$ .

\begin{align*} R & = \frac{\left( 20.0\ \text{m/s} \right)^{2} \sin \left( 2\left( 45^\circ \right) \right)}{9.81 \ \text{m/s}^2} \\ \\ R & = 40.7747\ \text{m} \\ \\ R & = 40.8 \ \text{m} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Problem 6-7: Calculating the angular velocity of a truck’s rotating tires

A truck with 0.420-m-radius tires travels at 32.0 m/s. What is the angular velocity of the rotating tires in radians per second? What is this in rev/min?

Solution:

The linear velocity, $v$ and the angular velocity $\omega$ are related by the equation

v=r\omega \ \text{or} \ \omega=\frac{v}{r}

From the given problem, we are given the following values: $r=0.420 \ \text{m}$ and $v=32.0 \ \text{m/s}$ . Substituting these values into the formula, we can directly solve for the angular velocity.

\begin{align*} \omega & = \frac{v}{r} \\ \\ \omega & = \frac{32.0 \ \text{m/s}}{0.420 \ \text{m}} \\ \\ \omega & = 76.1905 \ \text{rad/s} \\ \\ \omega & = 76.2 \ \text{rad/s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

Then, we can convert this into units of revolutions per minute:

\begin{align*} \omega & = 76.1905 \ \frac{\bcancel{\text{rad}}}{\bcancel{\text{sec}}}\times \frac{1 \ \text{rev}}{2\pi\ \bcancel{\text{rad}}}\times \frac{60\ \bcancel{\text{sec}}}{1\ \text{min}} \\ \\ \omega & = 727.5657\ \text{rev/min} \\ \\ \omega & = 728\ \text{rev/min} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Problem 6-6: Calculating the linear velocity of the lacrosse ball with the given angular velocity

In lacrosse, a ball is thrown from a net on the end of a stick by rotating the stick and forearm about the elbow. If the angular velocity of the ball about the elbow joint is 30.0 rad/s and the ball is 1.30 m from the elbow joint, what is the velocity of the ball?

Solution:

The linear velocity, $v$ and the angular velocity, $\omega$ of a rotating object are related by the equation

v=r\omega

From the given problem, we have the following values: $\omega=30.0 \ \text{rad/s}$ and $r=1.30 \ \text{m}$ . Substituting these values in the formula, we can directly solve for the linear velocity.

\begin{align*} v & =r\omega \\ \\ v & = \left( 1.30 \ \text{m} \right)\left( 30.0 \ \text{rad/s} \right) \\ \\ v & = 39.0 \ \text{m/s}\ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Problem 6-5: Calculating the angular velocity of a baseball pitcher’s forearm during a pitch

A baseball pitcher brings his arm forward during a pitch, rotating the forearm about the elbow. If the velocity of the ball in the pitcher’s hand is 35.0 m/s and the ball is 0.300 m from the elbow joint, what is the angular velocity of the forearm?

Solution:

We are given the linear velocity of the ball in the pitcher’s hand, $v=35.0\ \text{m/s}$ , and the radius of the curvature, $r=0.300 \ \text{m}$ . Linear velocity $v$ and angular velocity $\omega$ are related by

v=r\omega \ \text{or} \ \omega=\frac{v}{r}

If we substitute the given values into our formula, we can solve for the angular velocity directly. That is,

\begin{align*} \omega & = \frac{v}{r} \\ \\ \omega & = \frac{35.0 \ \text{m/s}}{0.300 \ \text{m}} \\ \\ \omega & = 116.6667 \ \text{rad/s} \\ \\ \omega & = 117 \ \text{rad/s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

The angular velocity of the forearm is about 117 radians per second.

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Problem 6-4: Period, angular velocity, and linear velocity of the Earth

(a) What is the period of rotation of Earth in seconds? (b) What is the angular velocity of Earth? (c) Given that Earth has a radius of 6.4×10⁶ m at its equator, what is the linear velocity at Earth’s surface?

Solution:

Part A

The period of a rotating body is the time it takes for 1 full revolution. The Earth rotates about its axis, and complete 1 full revolution in 24 hours. Therefore, the period is

\begin{align*} \text{Period} & = 24 \ \text{hours} \\ \\ \text{Period} & = 24 \ \text{hours} \times \frac{3600 \ \text{seconds}}{1 \ \text{hour}} \\ \\ \text{Period} & = 86400 \ \text{seconds} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

Part B

The angular velocity $\omega$ is the rate of change of an angle,

\omega = \frac{\Delta \theta}{\Delta t},

where a rotation $\Delta \theta$ takes place in a time $\Delta t$ .

From the given problem, we are given the following: $\Delta \theta = 2\pi \text{radian} = 1 \ \text{revolution}$ , and $\Delta t =24\ \text{hours} = 1440 \ \text{minutes}= 86400 \ \text{seconds}$ . Therefore, the angular velocity is

\begin{align*} \omega & = \frac{\Delta\theta}{\Delta t} \\ \\ \omega & = \frac{1 \ \text{revolution}}{1440 \ \text{minutes}}\\ \\ \omega & = 6.94 \times 10^{-4}\ \text{rpm}\ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

We can also express the angular velocity in units of radians per second. That is

\begin{align*} \omega & = \frac{\Delta\theta}{\Delta t} \\ \\ \omega & = \frac{2\pi \ \text{radian}}{86400 \ \text{seconds}}\\ \\ \omega & = 7.27 \times 10^{-5}\ \text{radians/second}\ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

Part C

The linear velocity $v$ , and the angular velocity $\omega$ are related by the formula

v = r \omega

From the given problem, we are given the following values: $r=6.4 \times 10^{6} \ \text{meters}$ , and $\omega = 7.27 \times 10^{-5}\ \text{radians/second}$ . Therefore, the linear velocity at the surface of the earth is

\begin{align*} v & =r \omega \\ \\ v & = \left( 6.4 \times 10^{6} \ \text{meters} \right)\left( 7.27 \times 10^{-5}\ \text{radians/second} \right) \\ \\ v & = 465.28 \ \text{m/s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Problem 6-3: Calculating the number of revolutions given the tires radius and distance traveled

An automobile with 0.260 m radius tires travels 80,000 km before wearing them out. How many revolutions do the tires make, neglecting any backing up and any change in radius due to wear?

Solution:

The rotation angle $\Delta \theta$ is defined as the ratio of the arc length to the radius of curvature:

\Delta \theta = \frac{\Delta s}{r}

where arc length $\Delta s$ is distance traveled along a circular path and $r$ is the radius of curvature of the circular path.

From the given problem, we are given the following quantities: $r=0.260 \ \text{m}$ , and $\Delta s = 80000 \ \text{km}$ .

\begin{align*} \Delta \theta & = \frac{\Delta s}{r} \\ \\ \Delta \theta & = \frac{80000 \ \text{km} \times \frac{1000 \ \text{m}}{1 \ \text{km}}}{0.260 \ \text{m}} \\ \\ \Delta \theta & = 307.6923077 \times 10^{6} \ \text{radians} \times\frac{1 \ \text{rev}}{2\pi \ \text{radians}} \\ \\ \Delta \theta & = 48970751.72 \ \text{revolutions} \\ \\ \Delta \theta & = 4.90 \times 10^{7} \ \text{revolutions} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}

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Taking the age of Earth to be about 4×109 years and assuming its orbital radius of 1.5 ×1011 m has not changed and is circular, calculate the approximate total distance Earth has traveled since its birth (in a frame of reference stationary with respect to the Sun).

Solution:

Solution:

A fairground ride spins its occupants inside a flying saucer-shaped container. If the horizontal circular path the riders follow has an 8.00 m radius, at how many revolutions per minute will the riders be subjected to a centripetal acceleration whose magnitude is 1.50 times that due to gravity?

Solution:

Construct Your Own Problem

Integrated Concepts

When kicking a football, the kicker rotates his leg about the hip joint.

(a) If the velocity of the tip of the kicker’s shoe is 35.0 m/s and the hip joint is 1.05 m from the tip of the shoe, what is the shoe tip’s angular velocity?

(b) The shoe is in contact with the initially stationary 0.500 kg football for 20.0 ms. What average force is exerted on the football to give it a velocity of 20.0 m/s?

(c) Find the maximum range of the football, neglecting air resistance.

Solution:

Part A

Part B

Part C

A truck with 0.420-m-radius tires travels at 32.0 m/s. What is the angular velocity of the rotating tires in radians per second? What is this in rev/min?

Solution:

In lacrosse, a ball is thrown from a net on the end of a stick by rotating the stick and forearm about the elbow. If the angular velocity of the ball about the elbow joint is 30.0 rad/s and the ball is 1.30 m from the elbow joint, what is the velocity of the ball?

Solution:

A baseball pitcher brings his arm forward during a pitch, rotating the forearm about the elbow. If the velocity of the ball in the pitcher’s hand is 35.0 m/s and the ball is 0.300 m from the elbow joint, what is the angular velocity of the forearm?

Solution:

(a) What is the period of rotation of Earth in seconds? (b) What is the angular velocity of Earth? (c) Given that Earth has a radius of 6.4×106 m at its equator, what is the linear velocity at Earth’s surface?

Solution:

Part A

Part B

Part C

An automobile with 0.260 m radius tires travels 80,000 km before wearing them out. How many revolutions do the tires make, neglecting any backing up and any change in radius due to wear?

Solution:

Taking the age of Earth to be about 4×10⁹ years and assuming its orbital radius of 1.5 ×10¹¹ m has not changed and is circular, calculate the approximate total distance Earth has traveled since its birth (in a frame of reference stationary with respect to the Sun).

(a) What is the period of rotation of Earth in seconds? (b) What is the angular velocity of Earth? (c) Given that Earth has a radius of 6.4×10⁶ m at its equator, what is the linear velocity at Earth’s surface?