Torque generated by the motor of ferris wheel?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the torque generated by an electric motor to accelerate a Ferris wheel with a moment of inertia of 11,300 kg·m² from rest to 9.6 revolutions per minute (rev/min) in 14.6 seconds. The user initially calculated the angular acceleration (α) as 0.0689 rad/s² and the torque (τ) as 778.08 N·m using the formula τ = Iα. However, the user received feedback indicating that this calculation was incorrect due to not accounting for frictional forces affecting the wheel's motion.

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Homework Statement


An electric motor can accelerate a Ferris
wheel of moment of inertia 11300 kg · m2 from
rest to 9.6 rev/min in 14.6 s. When the mo-
tor is turned off, friction causes the wheel to
slow down from 9.6 rev/min to 8.37 rev/min
in 7.23 s.
Determine the torque generated by the mo-
tor to bring the wheel to 9.6 rev/min.
Answer in units of N · m.

Homework Equations



[tex]\alpha[/tex] = [tex]\omega[/tex]/t
[tex]\tau[/tex] = I[tex]\alpha[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



given:
I = 11300 kgm2
[tex]\omega[/tex]o = 0
[tex]\omega[/tex]f = 9.6 rev/min = 1.005309649 rad/s
tf = 14.6 s

The question asks to determine the torque generated by the motor to bring the wheel to 9.6 rev/min so I think that means I don't have to worry about the motor beign turned off or the friction to slow it down... sooooo...

[tex]\alpha[/tex] = [tex]\omega[/tex]/t
= (1.005309649 rad/s)/(14.6s)
= 0.0688568253 rad/s2

[tex]\tau[/tex] = I[tex]\alpha[/tex]
= (11300kgm2)(0.0688568253 rad/s2)
= 778.0821257 Nm

When I enter this answer, it says it is wrong? What am I doing wrong here?

Thank you in advance for your help!
 
Last edited:
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In the first case
T = I*αo + I*αr
where I*αr is the torque required to overcome the friction and I*αo is the torque need to accelerate the wheel after overcoming the frictional force.
In the second case
Tf = I*αr.
 

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