Angular speed people walking problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two individuals walking around a circular lake in opposite directions, with given angular speeds. The objective is to determine the time until they meet, but the original poster expresses confusion regarding the setup and relevant equations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between angular speed, distance, and time, questioning how to set up the problem given the lack of explicit distance information. Some suggest considering the total angular distance and the combined speeds of the walkers.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing hints and prompting the original poster to clarify their understanding of angular concepts. There is no explicit consensus, but several directions for exploration have been suggested.

Contextual Notes

The original poster has indicated they are new to the concepts involved and are struggling with the interpretation of angular speed and its application in this context.

sweedeljoseph

Homework Statement


Two people start at the same place and walk around a circular lake in opposite directions. One has an angular speed of 1.7*10-3 rad/s, while the other has an angular speed of 3.4*10-3 rad/s. How long will it be before they meet?


Homework Equations


w=[tex]\theta[/tex]/Delta t
*v=vo+at ~ w=wo+[tex]\omega[/tex]t
*v2=vo2+2ax ~ w2=wo2+2[tex]\omega[/tex][tex]\theta[/tex]
*x=vot+(1/2)at2 ~ [tex]\theta[/tex]=wot+(1/2)at2

the ones with * means i changed it to what the problem is about. means the same thing just different letters so you won't get confused i guess.


The Attempt at a Solution


how do you set that up in the problem i gave because there's no value that is for rad/s. or is that omega? you plug that in there? because the seconds are supposed to be squared. I am so lost. i just learned this today too. its great. please help!

thank you!
sweedeljoseph
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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This is similar to your bullet problem. You have a speed and a distance but you need a time. Do you know the total distance? Do you know the total speed?
 
How many radians are they apart when they start? 1 revolution is how many radians?

How fast are the walking toward each other? How many radians per second are the closing on each other?

Distance/speed = time doesn't it?
 
i don't know the distance or speed. all the information i had i gave. it was word for word from the problem. there's no extra reference or anything.
 
Your angular distance is all the way around the circle, or 2 pi radians. The total speed is the speed of the two walkers added together. They are starting back to back walking away from each other around a circular lake.

Maybe it will help you to draw a diagram of the problem...
 
sweedeljoseph said:
i don't know the distance or speed. all the information i had i gave. it was word for word from the problem. there's no extra reference or anything.

Gee it looks like you are given their angular rates of walking about the lake.

And you know how many radians there are in one revolution.

You have all you need.
 
i know the rates and there like 6.28 radians in one revolution. but what equation am i supposed to use?
 
Do you know what each one means? Which one makes sense given the problem you are trying to solve and the information provided?
 
sweedeljoseph said:
i know the rates and there like 6.28 radians in one revolution. but what equation am i supposed to use?

ω * t = θ = 2π

You know what their rate of walking toward each other is.
 
  • #10
no i don't know what they mean. i just started learning this today and i have no idea what I am doing.
 

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