Centripetal Acceleration of North Pole

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the centripetal acceleration at the equator and the North Pole due to Earth's rotation. Participants highlight the need to relate centripetal acceleration to angular speed, emphasizing the formula a = V^2 / r. The conversation also touches on the relationship between angular velocity and tangential velocity, indicating that angular velocity can be derived from the Earth's rotation period. Ultimately, the key to solving the problem lies in understanding these relationships and the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation.
lacar213
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Homework Statement


Consider the radius of the Earth to be 6.38×106 m. What is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration experienced by a person (a) at the equator and (b) at the North Pole due to the Earth's rotation?


Homework Equations


a = V^2 / r


The Attempt at a Solution


I drew a diagram of what the problem describes but how do you get the acceleration without knowing the velocity?? Would it have something to do with angular speed??
 
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lacar213 said:
Would it have something to do with angular speed??
Exactly. You can express the centripetal acceleration in terms of angular speed. (How does angular speed relate to velocity for circular motion?)
 
angular = radians / s
 
Wouldnt you need to know the time for angular velocity?
 
lacar213 said:
angular = radians / s
Radians/sec are certainly the units for angular velocity, but I was thinking of the relationship between angular velocity and tangential velocity. Read this: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/rotq.html#avel"

lacar213 said:
Wouldnt you need to know the time for angular velocity?
What's the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation?
 
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