Centrifugal Force: Are these equal?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the confusion surrounding the calculation of centrifugal force using two different equations. The standard equation F = mω²r is compared to a modified version F = 3.342 x 10^-3 mω²r, which incorporates unit conversions. The main issue identified is the need to properly convert units from feet to meters and from revolutions per minute to radians per second. The participant realizes that their difficulties stemmed from misunderstanding these conversion factors. Ultimately, the correct approach involves careful attention to unit conversions to ensure both equations yield consistent results.
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Good Evening to all,

I have been working on the following problem for the past several days and have finally come to the end of my rope. I hate to admit defeat but I do need some help. I'm almost certain I'm simply missing something that's embarassingly simple...

This is the problem exactly as it appears on the page:

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2. Centrifugal force is given by the following equation:

F = m \omega^2 r

Where F = Centrifugal force
m = mass
\omega = angular velocity
r = length of radius

A student told me the other day that centrifugal force on a mass m kg, rotating at an angular velocity of \omega rpm and at a radius of r feet, is given by the following equation:

F = 3.342 x 10^-3 m \omega^2 r [Newtons]

Are both equations correct? Explain?
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I know that this means I need to take the F equation, break it down into its base SI units and build it back up taking the meters to feet and seconds to minutes conversion into consideration.
I know that the conversion for meters to feet is 3.28084. What am I missing?
 
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Sorry I'd thought I'd manage to find where I was going wrong but apparently not ...
 
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F = kg x .10472^2(rad/sec) x .3048(r)
F = 3.34252x10^-3 m w^2 r

It was my conversion directions that was causing all the problems.
 
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