Angular velocity error in textbook?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of angular velocity as it pertains to a problem in a physics textbook regarding a rotating CD. Participants are examining whether the textbook's treatment of angular velocity and tangential velocity is accurate, particularly in the context of varying radii on the CD.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether the textbook correctly presents the relationship between tangential velocity and angular velocity, noting that tangential velocity can vary with position on the radius.
  • One participant asserts that all points on a rotating CD have the same angular speed, while the tangential speed varies based on the distance from the center.
  • There is a suggestion that the error may stem from using the same tangential velocity for different radii, which could lead to different calculated angular velocities.
  • Participants provide specific values for tangential velocity and radii, along with corresponding angular velocities, to analyze the problem further.
  • One participant explains that the data on a CD is recorded at a constant linear velocity, which affects the angular velocity as the radius changes during playback.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that there should be a single angular speed for a rotating object, but there is disagreement regarding the implications of using the same tangential velocity for different radii. The discussion remains unresolved as participants explore different interpretations of the problem.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential confusion regarding the relationship between tangential and angular velocities, particularly in the context of a CD's operation and the assumptions made in the textbook problem.

lonewolf219
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The text for the intro physics class I'm taking is the first edition. I have noticed some errors in earlier chapters, and was wondering if this problem here is also an error? Not sure yet.

The question is about a CD. It says to find the angular velocity, and gives two points on the radius. r_1 and r_2. The question is an example, and the problem is solved for you. The given tangential velocity is 1.216 m/s. Then, they divide v_t by each radius, and determine two different angular velocities.

Is this correct? My understanding is only the tangential velocity can change depending upon position on the radius. Does this mean the angular velocity also depends on the radius?

ω_1 is 48 rad/s
ω_2 is 20 rad/s
 
Last edited:
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When a CD is rotating about its axis, all points on it have the SAME angular speed but the tangential speed at a point on the CD depends on the distance of given point from the centre.

I think that I overlooked how a CD really works.
 
Last edited:
Ok, so there should only be one angular speed. Was the mistake made by using the same tangential velocity for both r_1 and r_2?
 
lonewolf219 said:
Ok, so there should only be one angular speed. Was the mistake made by using the same tangential velocity for both r_1 and r_2?

One would require values of r1 and r2 to check that.
 
v_t= 1.216 m/s
r_1= 0.025 m
r_2= 0.058 m
ω_1= 48.64 rad/s
ω_2= 20.97 rad/s

Here are the values they used
 
lonewolf219 said:
v_t= 1.216 m/s
r_1= 0.025 m
r_2= 0.058 m
ω_1= 48.64 rad/s
ω_2= 20.97 rad/s

v = r\omega

Why don't you test it whether the tangential speed is being mixed up with the angular speed?
 
OK. Thanks for your help, Grzz. Glad physics forums is so accessible
 
Maybe the question didn't explain clearly how the numbers relate to a real audio CD.

The data on the CD is recorded at a constant linear (tangential) velocity of about 1.2 m/s over the whole disk. The data is recorded on a spiral track, starting at the smallest radius and working outwards.

As the radius changes, the angular velocity of the CD player slows down as it plays the disk from the inside to the outside. The radii of 25mm and 58mm in your question are the inner and outer radius of the recording area. The question is asking you to fnd the max and min speeds of the disk.

Note, the question is talking about playing an audio CD in "real time". If you are ripping the contents using a computer CD drive, the angular velocity might be 40 or 50 times faster.
 
Wow. Gotcha. Great information, AlephZero, thanks!
 

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