Uniform Sphere Rotation: Kinetic Energy and Torque

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the rotational kinetic energy of the Earth, its kinetic energy relative to the Sun, and determining the torque required to increase the length of a day from 24 hours to 25 hours. The subject area encompasses concepts of rotational dynamics and angular momentum.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the formulas for rotational kinetic energy and moment of inertia for a sphere. There are questions about the relationship between angular momentum and changes in angular velocity when considering the increase in the length of a day.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided calculations for the rotational kinetic energy and discussed the necessary angular velocities. There is ongoing exploration of how to calculate the required torque and the implications of changing the length of a day.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with specific values for the Earth's radius and mass, and there is a focus on the implications of changing the day length, which raises questions about angular momentum and torque without reaching a consensus on the final calculations.

veronicak5678
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Homework Statement



The Earth can be approximated as a solid, uniform sphere with r = 6380 km.
a- Using 1 day = 24 hrs, find the rotational kinetic energy.
b- It revolves around the sun at a distance of 1.5 x 10 ^ 11 m once every 365.25 days. Find kinetic relative to tsun.
c- If we wanted to increase the day to 25 hours, what torque would be required in 1 year to do this?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I am using mass = 5.97 x 10^24 kg

a- 2.58 x10^29 J
b- 2.66 x 10 ^33 J
c- ?
 
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Hi veronicak5678! :smile:

(have an omega: ω :wink:)
veronicak5678 said:
The Earth can be approximated as a solid, uniform sphere with r = 6380 km.
a- Using 1 day = 24 hrs, find the rotational kinetic energy.

What is the formula for rotational KE?

What is the moment of inertia of a sphere? :smile:
 
RK = 1/2 I w^2

I = 2/5 MR^2

(w for omega, angular velocity)
 
veronicak5678 said:
RK = 1/2 I w^2

I = 2/5 MR^2

(w for omega, angular velocity)

Hi veronicak5678! :smile:

(what happened to that ω I gave you?)

ok, now torque = rate of change of angular momentum …

so what is the change in angular momentum if the day is lengthened to 25 hours? :smile:
 
Sorry! I didn't even see that little alphabet.
So the desired ω is .0000698 rad/s to make a 25 hour day. I guess by change in momentum you mean the same as change in velocity? .0000727 - .0000698 rad/s ?
 
veronicak5678 said:
So the desired ω is .0000698 rad/s to make a 25 hour day. I guess by change in momentum you mean the same as change in velocity? .0000727 - .0000698 rad/s ?

No, angular momentum is Iω.

I mean the change in Iω.
 
OK. Actual Iω is 9.77 x 10^37 kg m ^2 * .0000727 rad /s = 7.11 x 10^33.
Desired Iω is 9.77 x 10^37 kg m ^2 * .0000698 rad /s = 6.82 x 10^33


Difference of 2.90 x 10^32

Not sure if that is what you meant...
 
Last edited:

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