# Angular Frequency vs. Angular Velocity

1. Dec 4, 2014

### gracy

In S.H.M omega denotes?I am really confused where to put pi=3.14 and where to put pi=180 degrees.In one question while solving for omega when Time period is given from formula T=2pi/omega i took pi=3.14 and got right but in other question in similar situation i.e solving for omega when Time period is given from formula T=2pi/omega ,when i took pi=3.14 i got wrong when i saw solution i came to know that there has to be pi=180 degrees.I am really confused.where omega is radian per second and where it is only per second?And where to put pi=3.14 and where to put pi=180 degrees in formula T=2pi/omega?

2. Dec 4, 2014

### Drakkith

Staff Emeritus
I would think that either the question itself, or your instructor, should be telling you whether to do the problem in radians or degrees.

3. Dec 4, 2014

### gracy

In one question while solving for omega whenTime period is given from formula T=2pi/omega i took pi=3.14 and got right but in other question in similar situation i.e solving for omega when Time period is given from formula T=2pi/omega ,when i took pi=3.14 i got wrong when i saw solution i came to know that there has to be pi=180 degrees.I am really confused.

4. Dec 4, 2014

### Drakkith

Staff Emeritus
pi is never equal to 180 degrees; pi is a number. Angular frequency, $\omega$, is usually given in radians/sec. In that case, the period is given by $T = 2 \pi/\omega$. If angular frequency is given in degrees/sec, then you'd have to use $T = 360/\omega$.
Note that $2\pi$ is the number of radians in a complete cycle and 360 is the number of degrees in a complete cycle.