Centripetal force of rotating mass vs. flowing mass

In summary, the conversation discusses two conditions involving a mass of water spinning at a fixed rate. The first condition calculates the centripetal force based on the mass, density, and velocity at a certain radius. The second condition involves opening the ends of the tubes and adding elbows, resulting in a "lawn sprinkler" effect. The question is whether the centripetal force remains the same for this condition or if it changes depending on the mass flow of the water. The expert explains that while the centripetal force remains the same, the water flow creates a spiral track that can affect the acceleration of the sprinkler. Further calculations may be needed to determine the velocity vector and overall centripetal force.
  • #1
trustthrust
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Hi, thanks in advance for any help and info. Have two conditions.

The first condition is a mass of water spinning as a fixed mass. Say we have a rectangular mass .25 inches tall, 2 inches long and .50 thick spinning at 3000 RPM with its center of mass at R = 2.00 inches. (Please see first attached jpg) The centripetal force of this mass is then F = m*V^2/R

To calculate mass the density is 1.94 slugs/ft^3. The volume is .25 X 2 X .50 = .25 in^3. The mass is then 1.94 slugs/ft^3 * ft^3/(12 in)^3 *.25 in^3 = .00028 slugs

The tangential velocity at R = 2.0 is 3000 REV/min * pi * 4in / (12 in/ft * 60s/min) = 52.4 ft/s

Therefore the centripetal force = .00028 slugs * (52.4 ft/s)^2/(2.0 in / 12in/ft) = 4.6 lbs.

For the second condition we open the ends of the rectangular tubes and place 90 degree elbows at the periphery as shown in the second attached jpg (similar to a lawn sprinkler)

Question is:
Is the centripetal force the same for condition two or does this change dependent on the mass flow out of the tubes?
 

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  • #2
Ok I won't deal with imperial units, and some of the inexactness... but the idea is basically this: the centripetal force to spin the water in the pipe is the same, but when the water is flowing you don't just spin, but you move water to the outside, on a spiral track (if you follow a small dust particle in a pipe). This would usually slow the wheel down, because you need energy to accelerate the water. Also the forces for a spiral are different from those of a circle.
When you attach bend ends you get a sprinkler effect. The water flows around the corner and carries away angular momentum, leading to a positive or negative acceleration of the sprinkler.
 
  • #3
Thanks OxDEADBEEF for the reply. Excellent point about the particles moving on a spiral track. My question came from working on a lawn sprinkler design and was confused on the stresses on the attached bends whether the force would increase with an increase in flow (not due to velocity but due to additional centripetal force). So does one need to calculate the velocity vector of a particle in the flowing stream to calculate the centripetal force? The velocity diagram I imagine would be similar to the Euler formulas (velocity vector diagrams) for centrifugal pumps.
 

1. What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle.

2. What is the difference between rotating mass and flowing mass?

Rotating mass refers to an object that is rotating around an axis, while flowing mass refers to an object that is moving in a fluid or gas. They both experience centripetal force, but the way in which the force is applied is different.

3. How does centripetal force affect rotating and flowing masses?

Centripetal force causes both rotating and flowing masses to experience a change in direction towards the center of the circle. This force is essential to keep an object moving in a circular path.

4. How is centripetal force calculated for rotating and flowing masses?

The centripetal force for rotating mass can be calculated using the equation F = mω²r, where m is the mass, ω is the angular velocity, and r is the distance from the center. For flowing mass, the equation is F = mv²/r, where v is the linear velocity.

5. How does the magnitude of centripetal force differ between rotating and flowing masses?

The magnitude of centripetal force is directly proportional to the mass and the square of the velocity, but inversely proportional to the radius. For rotating mass, the magnitude of centripetal force is also affected by the angular velocity, while for flowing mass, it is affected by the linear velocity. This means that for the same mass and velocity, the magnitude of centripetal force will be greater for a rotating mass compared to a flowing mass due to the smaller radius.

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