Linear acceleration and a grinding wheel

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a grinding wheel with a diameter of 0.35 m rotating at 2500 rpm, and participants are discussing how to determine the linear acceleration of a point on the edge of the wheel. The focus is on understanding the components of acceleration, specifically tangential and centripetal acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning whether both tangential and centripetal acceleration need to be calculated, with some suggesting that only centripetal acceleration is relevant due to the constant angular velocity of the wheel. Others are exploring the implications of the given rotational speed and its relation to acceleration.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. Some have provided reasoning for why tangential acceleration may not be necessary, while others are seeking clarification on the assumptions regarding constant angular velocity.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted lack of explicit information regarding angular acceleration, leading to questions about the nature of the wheel's motion. The problem does not specify any changes in angular velocity, which influences the discussion on acceleration components.

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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