(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
PeriodPeriodPeriod=24 hours=24 hours×1 hour3600 seconds=86400 seconds (Answer)
Part B
The angular velocity ω is the rate of change of an angle,
ω=ΔtΔθ,
where a rotation Δθ takes place in a time Δt.
From the given problem, we are given the following: Δθ=2πradian=1 revolution, and Δt=24 hours=1440 minutes=86400 seconds. Therefore, the angular velocity is
ωωω=ΔtΔθ=1440 minutes1 revolution=6.94×10−4 rpm (Answer)
We can also express the angular velocity in units of radians per second. That is
ωωω=ΔtΔθ=86400 seconds2π radian=7.27×10−5 radians/second (Answer)
Part C
The linear velocity v, and the angular velocity ω are related by the formula
From the given problem, we are given the following values: r=6.4×106 meters, and ω=7.27×10−5 radians/second. Therefore, the linear velocity at the surface of the earth is
vvv=rω=(6.4×106 meters)(7.27×10−5 radians/second)=465.28 m/s (Answer)
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