Rotational Kinematics - A gymnast is performing a

1. Nov 18, 2009

crono_

NOTE: In playing with the symbols it appears that I've made pi to be an exponent...um...so anytime you see that, please disregard it as pi is not meant to be an exponent anywhere here. Thanks!

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A gymnast is performing a floor routine. In a tumbling run she spins through the air, increasing her angular velocity from 2.60 to 5.40 rev/s while rotating through one half of a revolution. How much time does this maneuver take?

$$\omega$$o = 2.60 rev/s

$$\omega$$f = 5.40 rev/s

t = ?

$$\vartheta$$ = 2$$\pi$$ rev ---> But she only goes through 1/2 revolution. So this would be $$\vartheta$$ = 2$$\pi$$ rev / 2 . Or so I thought...

2. Relevant equations

I figured this equation would be appropriate since all variables, except t, are known.

$$\vartheta$$ = 1/2 ($$\omega$$o + $$\omega$$f) t

3. The attempt at a solution

$$\vartheta$$ = 1/2 ($$\omega$$o + $$\omega$$f) t

Solve for t

t = 2$$\vartheta$$ / ($$\omega$$o + $$\omega$$f

t = 2 (2$$\pi$$ rev / 2) / (2.60 + 5.40)

t = 6.2831 [STRIKE]rev [/STRIKE]/ 8 [STRIKE]rev[/STRIKE]/s

t = 0.785s

Buuuut.....this is wrong. Any thoughts as I seem to be missing something?

Thanks!

2. Nov 18, 2009

willem2

$\omega_0$ and $\omega_f$ are given in rev/s, not rad/s

3. Nov 18, 2009

crono_

I didn't know there was a difference....

My textbook says the following:

Angular displacement is often expressed in one of three units. The first is the familiar degree, and it is well known that there are 360 degrees in a circle. The second unit is the revolution (rev), one revolution representing one complete turn of 360°. The most useful unit from a scientific viewpoint, however, is the SI unit called the radian (rad).

I interpreted that as 360 degrees, 1 rev, and 1 rad are all different ways of saying the same thing. 360 degrees = 1 rev = 1 rad

Apparently not?

4. Nov 18, 2009

Staff: Mentor

Nope. Note that the quoted paragraph from your text doesn't define the radian. (I suspect a later paragraph does.)

360° = 1 rev = 2pi radians.

Since your problem used revs, just stick with that. Don't mix units. The angle is 1/2 rev.

5. Nov 18, 2009

crono_

Hrmmm....

Okay, so then rather than putting $$\vartheta$$ = 2pi, it should just be $$\vartheta$$ = 1/2 rev.

So the equation should look like:

t = 2 (1/2 rev) / 2.60 rev/s + 5.40 rev/s

t = 0.125 s

Correct?

6. Nov 18, 2009

Correct!