Angular kinematic problem -- An accelerating merry-go-round

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around an angular kinematics problem involving a merry-go-round that accelerates to a final angular velocity of 10 revolutions per minute over a period of 20 seconds. Participants are exploring various aspects of angular motion, including angular displacement, angular velocity, and acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of angular displacement (Theta) and its distinction from linear displacement (s). There are questions about the interpretation of Theta and the reasons for obtaining different answers. Some participants express confusion regarding the use of time in calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants questioning the definitions and representations of variables involved in the problem. There is an emphasis on clarifying the meaning of Theta and the conditions under which different calculations were made. Guidance has been offered regarding the need to define what Theta represents in this context.

Contextual Notes

Participants note discrepancies in the application of time in their calculations, specifically referencing the use of 2 seconds versus the total time of 20 seconds for the acceleration phase. There is also mention of reliance on reference tables for angular kinematics, which may influence their reasoning.

Nick tringali
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Homework Statement
Hopefully I did everything up to the theta part correctly but I do not understand how I’m getting 2 different answers using 2 different equations. It’s worth noting that I designed this problem myself. Also what would be the units for theta in this case and the units for s in s= r *theta
Relevant Equations
Omega final ^2= omega initial^2 +2 alpha theta
Theta = omega initial * time + .5 alpha*time^2
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Also if you can’t read my handwriting it says a merry-go-round is rotating 10 revolutions every minute at its final angular velocity and it took 20 seconds to reach that speed
 
Nick tringali said:
a merry-go-round is rotating 10 revolutions every minute at its final angular velocity
A bit painful to follow you needlessly approximate a ##\pi## early on and end up with calculating a rev every 5.988s.

What's the actual question ? (poor eyesight and an itty-bitty laptop screen)
 
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hmmm27 said:
A bit painful to follow you needlessly approximate a ##\pi## early on and end up with calculating a rev every 5.988s.

What's the actual question ? (poor eyesight and an itty-bitty laptop screen)
The actual question is Find frequency find angular velocity find the tangent velocity find centripetal force find linear acceleration find angular acceleration and the part where I got lost is to find Theta, which I don’t really know what it is or how it’s different from s. My question about this question is why I’m getting 2 different answers for theta.
 
Nick tringali said:
the part where I got lost is to find Theta, which I don’t really know what it is or how it’s different from s. My question about this question is why I’m getting 2 different answers for theta.
Your scribbling for "bonus" seems to indicate that ##\theta## is supposed to be the angular displacement during 2 seconds at final velocity, so both answers are wrong.

I think your first step should be deciding, not the value of ##\theta##, but what ##\theta## is supposed to represent. Since you wrote the question yourself, that shouldn't be too difficult.
 
Last edited:
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Nick tringali said:
The actual question is Find frequency find angular velocity find the tangent velocity find centripetal force find linear acceleration find angular acceleration and the part where I got lost is to find Theta, which I don’t really know what it is or how it’s different from s. My question about this question is why I’m getting 2 different answers for theta.
In one of your methods you used t=2s instead of t=20s.
 
hmmm27 said:
Your scribbling for "bonus" seems to indicate that ##\theta## is supposed to be the angular displacement during 2 seconds at final velocity, so both answers are wrong.

I think your first step should be deciding, not the value of ##\theta##, but what ##\theta## is supposed to represent. Since you wrote the question yourself, that shouldn't be too difficult.
What I’m not understanding is how they are both wrong when both equations come straight out of my reference table for angular Kinematics
 
Nick tringali said:
What I’m not understanding is how they are both wrong when both equations come straight out of my reference table for angular Kinematics
hmmm27 said:
Your scribbling for "bonus" seems to indicate that ##\theta## is supposed to be the angular displacement during 2 seconds at final velocity, so both answers are wrong.

I think your first step should be deciding, not the value of ##\theta##, but what ##\theta## is supposed to represent. Since you wrote the question yourself, that shouldn't be too difficult.
 
hmmm27 said:
Your scribbling for "bonus" seems to indicate that θ is supposed to be the angular displacement during 2 seconds at final velocity,
As I read it, the right hand scribble gives the displacement from rest over 2 seconds at the calculated acceleration. The left hand gives it over 20 seconds, hence their ratio of 100:1.
 

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