Windmill rotates with constant ang. accel. What time does Tangetial = Centripetal

In summary, the tangential and centripetal accelerations of a windmill will be equal when the angular velocity is equal to the angular acceleration, and this occurs after t seconds where t = ω/α. The radius of the windmill is not needed to solve for this time.
  • #1
IAmPat
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Homework Statement


A windmill starts from rest and rotates with a constant angular acceleration of 0.25 rad/s2. How many seconds after starting will the magnitude of the tangential acceleration of the tip of a blade equal the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration at the same point.

Homework Equations



Vt = Tangetial Speed = r * w
At = Tangetial Acceleration = r * [tex]\alpha[/tex]
Ac = Centripetal Acceleration = w2/r


The Attempt at a Solution



Not sure where to start with this one because I don't know the radius of the windmill.

At = Ac
[tex]\alpha[/tex] * r = w2/r
0.25*r = w2/r
 
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  • #2
Greetings! Good start. You are right in saying that the tangential and centripetal accelerations will be equal when

[tex]a_{cen} = a_{tan}[/tex]

[tex]\frac{v^2}{R} = R\alpha[/tex]

But since v = Rω,

[tex]\frac{(R\omega)^2}{R} = R\alpha[/tex]

[tex]\omega^2 = \alpha[/tex]

Now just use the fact the [tex]\omega = \alpha t[/tex] to solve for time, [tex]t[/tex].
 

1. How does a windmill rotate with constant angular acceleration?

A windmill rotates with constant angular acceleration because of the torque applied by the wind on its blades. This torque causes a net force on the blades, resulting in an angular acceleration and rotation of the windmill.

2. What factors affect the angular acceleration of a windmill?

The angular acceleration of a windmill can be affected by several factors, including the strength and direction of the wind, the size and shape of the windmill blades, and the presence of any external forces or resistance.

3. Can a windmill have both tangential and centripetal motion at the same time?

Yes, a windmill can have both tangential and centripetal motion simultaneously. The tangential motion refers to the rotation of the windmill around its central axis, while the centripetal motion refers to the inward force that keeps the windmill's blades in circular motion.

4. At what point does the tangential velocity of a windmill equal the centripetal velocity?

The tangential velocity of a windmill will equal the centripetal velocity when the windmill is rotating at a constant speed and there are no external forces acting on it. This occurs when the tangential and centripetal accelerations are equal, resulting in a balanced circular motion.

5. How does the time for the tangential velocity to equal the centripetal velocity relate to the angular acceleration of a windmill?

The time for the tangential velocity to equal the centripetal velocity is directly related to the angular acceleration of a windmill. The greater the angular acceleration, the faster the windmill will reach the point where the tangential and centripetal velocities are equal. Therefore, a windmill with a higher angular acceleration will take less time to reach this point compared to a windmill with a lower angular acceleration.

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