Calculating Rotations and Linear Acceleration in a Flywheel System

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The discussion focuses on calculating rotations and linear acceleration in a flywheel system. The flywheel operates at a constant speed of 115 rev/min and comes to rest in 2.20 hours due to friction, prompting a calculation of total rotations before stopping. For the second part, participants discuss finding the linear acceleration of a particle 37.0 cm from the axis of rotation while the flywheel turns at 0.390 rev/min. Key formulas for angular motion and relationships between linear and angular quantities are shared to aid in calculations. The final acceleration result discussed is approximately 0.0006159 m/s², indicating a successful understanding of the concepts.
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I missed a week of school so I'm a bit behind, i do have a book so i need just a bit of guidance. Any extra help would be appreciated.

Question Part 1
The flywheel of a steam engine runs with a constant angular speed of 115 rev/min. When steam is shut off, the friction of the bearings and the air (assumed constant) brings the wheel to rest in 2.20 hours. How many rotations does the wheel make before coming to rest?

Part 2
Consider a particle that is located at a distance of 37.0 centimeters from the axis of rotation when the flywheel is turning at 0.390 rev/min. What is the magnitude of the net linear acceleration of this particle?
 
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Angular motion formulas have a direct analog to kinematics formulas. The formula relating velocity and acceleration in kinematics,

v = at

simply becomes

\Delta \omega = \alpha \Delta t

where omega is the angular velocity and alpha is the angular acceleration. From that formula, you can calculate the acceleration. Then we have the equation

\Delta(v^2) = 2a\Delta x

becomes

\Delta(\omega^2) = 2\alpha \Delta \theta

from which you can calculate theta.

For the second part, centripetal acceleration is related to linear velocity by

a = \frac{v^2}{r}

and linear velocity is related to angular velocity by

v= \omega r

Combine the two and you're done.

cookiemonster
 
Got the first part, and now workin to understand the second. I'll let you know. Thanks.
 
For Part two, this is what I've come up with and I'm stuck on.
w = 115 rev/min
r = .37 m

Does v^2 in the first equation equal (wr)^2?

I missed all the work on Omega and such, I'm having a lot of trouble with some work.
 
Yes. v^2 = (wr)^2.

cookiemonster
 
Therefore..
(wr)^2/.37 should give me my answer?
 
Yes.

cookiemonster
 
I'm getting 4893.25.. m/s^2 and that's not right.

Should i be converting 115 rev/min to something?
 
PhysicsPhun said:
I'm getting 4893.25.. m/s^2 and that's not right.

Should i be converting 115 rev/min to something?

radians/min?
 
  • #10
I'll look up how to do that. or does anyone know off hand?
 
  • #11
One revolution = 2π radians;
One minute = 60 seconds.
 
  • #12
Didn't you say that it was going .390 rev/min?

(.390rev/min)(1min/60sec)(2pi rad/1rev) = .0408 rad/s

cookiemonster
 
  • #13
Consider a particle that is located at a distance of 37.0 centimeters from the axis of rotation when the flywheel is turning at 0.390 rev/min. What is the magnitude of the net linear acceleration of this particle?

Ya you're right Cookie.. I was lookin at the first part.
(wr)^2/r
(.0408*.37)^2/.37

a =.0006159 m/s^2.. Does that look right?
 
  • #14
.39 rev/min isn't very fast.

cookiemonster
 
  • #15
so my answer is on target?
 
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