Solving for Distance of a Rotating Wheel

In summary, the wheel's diameter and time were given, and using the equations for angular velocity and displacement, the distance traveled by a point on the edge of the wheel was calculated in meters after converting all values to SI units.
  • #1
julz3216
18
0

Homework Statement



A wheel 31.8 cm in diameter accelerates uniformly from 242 rpm to 380 rpm in 7.66 s. How far will a point on the edge of the wheel have traveled in this time?


Homework Equations



angle = initial angle +angular velocity(t) + .5(angular acceleration)(t)

w=initial angular velocity +angular acceleration (t)

and s=R*angle

The Attempt at a Solution



i tried plugging into the equations but i really don't know what to do
 
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  • #2
angle = initial angle +angular velocity(t) + .5(angular acceleration)(t)
Not quite.

θ = θo + ω*t + 1/2*α*t2

Where θ is in radians.

And there are 2π radians in a revolution.

First convert your ω's to radians/sec from rpm and figure α and then you can figure your θ.

To find distance ... x = θ *r
 
  • #3
I converted to rad/sec so its 25.34 and 39.79
I found a = (39.79-25.32)/7.66 =1.886
then I used θ = θo + ω*t + 1/2*α*t2
and did θ = 0 + 25.34*7.66 + 1/2*1.886*7.66 = 249.435

So i got x=θR = 249.435(15.9) = 3966.01

But this is wrong, is there something else I need to convert or calculate?
 
  • #4
julz3216 said:
But this is wrong, is there something else I need to convert or calculate?

Without doing any other math I would note the diameter is .318m.

Always, always stay in SI units wherever possible.
 
  • #5
Oh ok, that's what I did wrong. I got it. Thank you!
 

1. How do you calculate the distance traveled by a rotating wheel?

To calculate the distance traveled by a rotating wheel, you need to know the wheel's radius and the number of rotations it has completed. Multiply the radius by the number of rotations to find the distance traveled.

2. What is the formula for finding the distance traveled by a rotating wheel?

The formula for finding the distance traveled by a rotating wheel is distance = radius x number of rotations. This formula assumes that the wheel is moving in a straight line without slipping.

3. How does the speed of the wheel affect the distance traveled?

The speed of the wheel does not affect the distance traveled. As long as the wheel is rotating at a constant speed, the distance traveled will be the same regardless of the speed.

4. Can the distance traveled by a rotating wheel be negative?

No, the distance traveled cannot be negative. The distance traveled is always a positive value, as it represents the total distance covered by the wheel.

5. How does the size of the wheel impact the distance traveled?

The size of the wheel, specifically the radius, directly affects the distance traveled. A larger wheel will cover a greater distance with each rotation compared to a smaller wheel with the same number of rotations.

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