Angular velocity, can someone help?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the average angular acceleration of a centrifuge with a rotor radius of 12.0 cm, spinning at 2000 rpm and coming to rest after 50.0 revolutions. Participants clarify that the initial and final angular velocities, along with the total angular displacement, are sufficient to find the acceleration using standard equations for constant acceleration. The radius is deemed unnecessary for this calculation since the problem focuses on angular rather than linear speed. One user calculated an angular acceleration of approximately -3.5 rad/s², emphasizing that the radius is not relevant to the formula used. The conversation highlights the importance of distinguishing between angular and tangential speeds in physics problems.
knowledgerich
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Homework Statement


a laboratory centrifuge has rotor radius (from center of rotor to sample) of 12.0 cm and typically spins at a rate of 2000 rpm. When switched off, it turns through 50.0 revolutions in coming to rest. Find the value of its average angular acceleration.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


so far I only turned the rpm to radians/s which is the angular velocity but I wasn't sure what to do next
 
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welcome to pf!

hi knowledgerich! welcome to pf! :smile:
knowledgerich said:
a laboratory centrifuge has rotor radius (from center of rotor to sample) of 12.0 cm and typically spins at a rate of 2000 rpm. When switched off, it turns through 50.0 revolutions in coming to rest. Find the value of its average angular acceleration.

so far I only turned the rpm to radians/s which is the angular velocity but I wasn't sure what to do next

you have initial speed, final speed, and total distance, and the question asks for acceleration

sooo … just use one of the standard constant acceleration equations (but using angle instead of distance) :wink:
 
is the radius used in this equation? I came up with (-33^2 rad/s)/(2*100π) = -3.5 rad/s^2
 
knowledgerich said:
is the radius used in this equation? I came up with (-33^2 rad/s)/(2*100π) = -3.5 rad/s^2
No, I think the radius was given you to confuse you. (There ought to be more questions like that IMO.)
What are the units of the '33'?
 
knowledgerich said:
is the radius used in this equation?

the radius would only be needed if they gave you the tangential (linear) speed instead of the angular speed …

eg if they said a wire was coming off the wheel at so-many metres per second :wink:
 
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