How fast is the trainee rotating in circular motion?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving circular motion, specifically calculating the rotational speed of a trainee in a training device that rotates them in a horizontal circle of radius 10.0 m, with the force experienced being 7.75 times their weight.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss how to convert linear speed into revolutions per second, with some suggesting to first calculate the circumference of the circle. Others express confusion over the correct values for speed and circumference, leading to various interpretations of the problem.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, sharing their calculations and questioning each other's results. Some have offered guidance on how to approach the conversion from linear speed to rotational speed, while others are still working through the calculations and expressing uncertainty about their answers.

Contextual Notes

There are discrepancies in the values used for circumference and speed, with participants noting potential errors in their calculations and assumptions. The discussion reflects a mix of correct and incorrect reasoning as they navigate the problem.

trixid
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A device for training astronauts and jet fighter pilots is a designed to rotate the trainee in a horizontal circle of radius 10.0 m. If the force felt by the trainee is 7.75 timers her own weight, how fast is she rotating? Express your answer in both m/s and rev/s.

I got the main problem but I can't get the rev/s. :redface:
 
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Well, think about it.

You know how many meters it will tavel in one second.

You want to change that into how many revolutions will occur in one second

Consider how many meters are in a revolution.
 
Find the circumference of the circle first. After that, change the meters/seconds speed that you have in circumferences/second because you know how many meters are in one circumference.
 
Hehe Zlex, we posted in the same exact minute :biggrin:
 
Ah I've got it now. Thanks a bunch.

Does 1.71 rev/s sound about right?
 
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That's not what I got, but I might have done it wrong. How did you get to that answer?
 
The speed came out to be 27.6 m/s. The circumference was 47.1 m. I divided the circumference by the speed. Maybe I used the wrong numbers?
 
Ah! Something is horriblely wrong with what I did. The speed has nothing to do with it.
 
Actually, I think I'm just confusing myself. I think my answer was right...maybe?
 
  • #10
Yep :biggrin: it's the circumference that's giving you the pain :approve:
 
  • #11
Using those numbers, i assume your trying to figure out revolutions per second with a speed of 27.6 and a circumfrence of 47.1 ?? You take the speed and divide by the circumfrence. Do it like this, forget about the circle, and Say you go 27.6 m/s constantly. how much of the 47.1 would you go in 1 second. (Hint: Speed / Distance = ? ) I'll tell you what I got after you try for yourself, but yes speed has something to do with it. Also think of this equation

Xf = Xi + ViT + 1/2aT^2
a = acceleration = 0 (constant velocity)
T = Time = 1 sec
Xf = Meter part of the speed.

Xf = 0 + 26m/s(1s)
Xf = 26 meters

So think of it this way, what percent of 47.1 is 27.6?
 
  • #12
The problem is that the circumference is NOT 47.1 m.
 
  • #13
Oh, ok, i just worked it out and got 62.8 meters for the circumference. Is that what you got? ( I hadnt tried to find circumference or velocity, just going with his numbers )
 
  • #14
He got the velocity right but the circumference he got wrong.
 
  • #15
What's the formula for circumference?
 
  • #16
You really need to read your book if you don't know what the formula for circumference is. Anyways, it's 2*pi*r
 
  • #17
OOPS! I was mixing up problems. I used 7.5 as r, from a different problem entirely.
I got 2.28 rev/s. I'm hoping that's right.
 
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  • #18
Nope, at least that's not what I got.

You seem to be going in the right track so I'll just show you how I did it:

cintripital force = 7.75*weight of astronaut

(mv^2)/r = 7.75*mg

V^2/r = 7.75g

v^2 = 7.75gr

v = sqrt(7.75gr) = sqrt(7.75*9.98*10) = sqrt(773.45) = 27.81 m/s

circumference = 2*pi*r = 62.83 m

27.81m/s * 1circumference/62.83m = .4426 rev/s
 
  • #19
But if it goes around 30 m in 1 second then it should go around a 62.8 m "track" at least twice, shouldn't it?
No scratch that, it would go less than once, like your answer shows, because it doesn't go a whole revolution in one second. I think I'm catching on...slowly. This is sad, I'm confused on the part that's pretty much 8th grade math. :redface:
 
  • #20
Nope.

If it can only travel 30 m per second then it can only travel HALF the 60 m track in one second.
 
  • #21
That's what I said, right? (Just checking to make sure I've got it.)
 
  • #22
You got it.
 
  • #23
Yay! Thanks a bunch.
 

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