Linear acceleration and a grinding wheel

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the linear acceleration of a point on the edge of a grinding wheel with a diameter of 0.35 m rotating at 2500 RPM. It is established that only centripetal acceleration is relevant in this scenario, as the wheel maintains a constant angular velocity and tangential speed, resulting in zero tangential acceleration. The reasoning is based on the absence of any indication of angular acceleration in the problem statement, similar to a train moving at a constant speed without acceleration.

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  • Understanding of angular velocity and its implications
  • Knowledge of centripetal acceleration calculations
  • Familiarity with rotational motion concepts
  • Basic algebra for unit conversions and calculations
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  • Study the formula for centripetal acceleration: ac = v2 / r
  • Learn about the relationship between RPM and angular velocity in radians per second
  • Explore the concept of tangential acceleration in non-constant rotational motion
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MIA6
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Homework Statement


A grinding wheel 0.35 m in diameter rotates at 2500rmp. What is the linear acceleration of a point on the edge of the grinding wheel?
For the linear acceleration, should it be atotal=atan+aR? Should we find both tangential acceleration and centripetal acceleration? But on the answer key, it's only centripetal acceleration. i dont' know why? But also I can not find tangential acceleration since I don't know the time. Hope you can help. thanks.
 
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Should we find both tangential and centripetal acceleration?
 
MIA6 said:
Should we find both tangential and centripetal acceleration?
The wheel is rotating at constant angular velocity and constant tangential speed; ; therfore, it has no tangential acceleration, just radial (or centripetal) acceleration.
 
How do you know it's constant angular velocity? Because it didn't say anything about acceleration of angular velocity?
 
MIA6 said:
How do you know it's constant angular velocity? Because it didn't say anything about acceleration of angular velocity?
It said it it is moving at 2500rpm. That is a constant angular velocity. If it was accelerating, it would have stated such, or at least made a veiled reference to it and given other data. It is like saying that a train is moving at 90mph...there is no reason to believe that the train is accelerating if it is not stated, that is, the 90 mph is assumed a constant speed.
 
Ok. I got it. Thank you.
 

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