# Angular Momentum Problem

## Homework Statement

"The flywheel rotates with angular velocity of w=0.005theta^2 rad/s. Determine the angular acceleration after it has rotated 20 revolutions.

## Homework Equations

I thought the equations were all but self-evident using the problem description! (See below.)
alpha=dw/dt

## The Attempt at a Solution

The angular velocity is merely a=0.01theta. I just plugged in 20*2pi for the acceleration at that time and was... wrong. Massively wrong, in fact. The book solutions agrees with me about my equations for w and a, but they actually multiple the acceleration and the velocity together!

The book defines alpha as dw/dtheta... but then, in this solution set, states that alpha=w(dw)(dtheta), which is not something I can make *any* sense out of. They then use this value of alpha to compute the acceleration over a rotation of (40pi), complete with theta cubed.

What happened here? I can't make heads or tails of it.

The book defines alpha as dw/dtheta
Are you sure of this definition?

hilbert2
Gold Member
You need to use the chain rule of differentiation when applying ##\frac{d}{dt}## on ##[\theta (t)]^2##.

Delta2
Delta2
Homework Helper
Gold Member
due to the chain rule of differentiation it is ##\frac{dw}{dt}=\frac{dw}{d\theta}\frac{d\theta}{dt}## and it is also ##\frac{d\theta}{dt}=w## so what your book says is correct.

The book defines alpha as dw/dtheta... but then, in this solution set, states that alpha=w(dw)(dtheta), which is not something I can make *any* sense out of. They then use this value of alpha to compute the acceleration over a rotation of (40pi), complete with theta cubed.

your book is wrong, it is not $$\alpha = w\times dw \times d\theta$$

it is,
$$\alpha = {d \omega \over dt} = \underbrace{{d\omega \over d\theta } \times {d\theta \over dt}}_{\text{chain rule}} = ?$$

haruspex
Homework Helper
Gold Member
2020 Award
due to the chain rule of differentiation it is ##\frac{dw}{dt}=\frac{dw}{d\theta}\frac{d\theta}{dt}## and it is also ##\frac{d\theta}{dt}=w## so what your book says is correct.
.... assuming k2 meant alpha=w(dw)/(dtheta) and not
alpha=w(dw)(dtheta),

Delta2
Homework Helper
Gold Member
guys I believe the post has some typos, I believe he meant to write that his book says that a=wdw/dtheta , ##a=w\frac{dw}{d\theta}## in latex :).

I'll give you a screenshot if you want!

The book defined alpha (angular acceleration, I take it) merely as $$\frac{dw}{d\theta}$$. Then is also says that $$\alpha d\theta = \omega d\omega$$.

The exact answer has the line in it:
$$\alpha=\omega \frac{d\omega}{d\theta}$$ and using the given (.005theta) value and its derivative, multiplies them together and posits the value derived thereof to be the answer.

haruspex
The book defined alpha (angular acceleration, I take it) merely as $$\frac{dw}{d\theta}$$.
$$\alpha=\omega \frac{d\omega}{d\theta}$$ .