MHB Determining Miles Traveled From Tire Diameter and Rotations.

AI Thread Summary
To determine the distance traveled based on tire diameter and rotations, the circumference of a 28" tire is calculated as approximately 87.96 inches. By multiplying this circumference by 10,000 rotations, the distance covered is about 13.88 miles. The discussion also explores using the formula s = rθ, where θ is the total angular displacement in radians, calculated as 20,000π radians for 10,000 rotations. This method ultimately yields the same distance when using the radius and angular displacement. The conversation emphasizes the equivalence of methods while focusing on the application of the formula s = rθ.
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I am trying to figure out how to solve this equation. I have a car with tires of diameter 28", and they rotate 10,000 times. How far did I travel?

According to my textbook it's 13.9 miles.

I can figure it out by finding the circumference of the tire (87.96"), multiplying that by 10,000 (879600), dividing the product by the amount of inches in a mile (63360) to get 13.8826.

But, I am supposed to do it with this formula, $$s=r\theta$$
However, I'm not sure how to do that at all.
It is a formula to find the relation between a linear displacement and an angular displacement.
s = linear displacement
$$\theta$$ = angular displacement (and must be in radian form)
r = radius

I might be supposed to use $$v=r\omega$$
It is a formula to find the relation between a linear velocity and an angular velocity.
v = vertical speed
$$\omega$$ = angular speed (must be in radian form)
r = radius

How can I solve this problem using the formula $$s=r\theta$$?
 
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For a complete rotation, \theta= 2\pi radians. For a general angle of \theta there are \frac{\theta}{2\pi} rotations. Given a radius r, the circumference of a full circle is of course 2\pi r so that a rotation of \theta radians gives a distance of 2\pi r\frac{\theta}{2\pi}= r \theta.
 
Country Boy said:
For a complete rotation, \theta= 2\pi radians. For a general angle of \theta there are \frac{\theta}{2\pi} rotations. Given a radius r, the circumference of a full circle is of course 2\pi r so that a rotation of \theta radians gives a distance of 2\pi r\frac{\theta}{2\pi}= r \theta.

Thank you, but I don't understand how that answers my question.
 
"10000 rotations" is \theta= 10000(2\pi)= 20000\pi radians. The distance covered is \theta r= 20000\pi(14)= 280000\pi=879646 inches. That's just what you did, just with a slight change in the order of the multiplications. Your first calculated the circumfernce of the wheel, using 2\pi r then multiplied by 10000. Using r\theta you first calculate the total angular rotation, \theta[/b], in radians by multiplying 2\pi by 10000, and <b>then</b> multiply by r= 14 in.<br /> <br /> In other words, your method was to first multiply 2\pi r then multiply by 10000 while using &quot;r\theta&quot; you first find \theta by multiplying 10000(2\pi) and <b>then</b> multiply by r= 14.
 
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What's wrong with keeping it simple:

u = wheel circumference = pi * 28 inches

10000 revolutions = u * 10000 inches

u * 10000 / (5280*12) = ~13.8833 miles
 
There's nothing wrong with that and, in fact, that was what the OP did. But his question was about using "r\theta" and that was what I was responding to.
 
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Yer right CB...should be more careful...
A thousand apologies of which you may have one :)
 

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