What is the centripetal acceleration of the end of the rod?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ilkjester
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Homework
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the centripetal acceleration of the end of a rotating rod, given its length and rotational speed. The problem is situated within the context of circular motion and dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the formula for centripetal acceleration and question the radius used in calculations. There are discussions about converting units from centimeters to meters and the implications of rotating about the center versus the end of the rod.

Discussion Status

Multiple interpretations of the radius are being explored, with some participants confirming the use of 0.153 m. There is an ongoing exchange about the calculations and unit conversions, with some participants expressing uncertainty about their results.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of unit conversion and the potential confusion regarding the pivot point of the rod. The teacher's guidance on using a specific radius has been mentioned, but there remains some ambiguity in the calculations and assumptions being made.

ilkjester
Messages
35
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


According to the Guinness Book of world records. the highest rotary speed ever attained was 2010 m/s (4500 mph). the rotating rod was 15.3 cm (6 in.) long. assume that the speed quoted is that of the end of the rod.
a) What is the centripetal acceleration of the end of the rod?
b) if you were to attach a 1.0 g object to the end of the rod, what force would be needed to hold it on its own.


Homework Equations


ac=v^2/r
fnet=m(ac)


The Attempt at a Solution


ac=2010m/s^2/7.56
ac=528117 that just seems ridiculous for an answer.

fnet=1.0g(528117)
fnet=528117
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You didn't convert to m. Also, are you sure the rod is rotating about the center and not the end?

I think you're supposed to use r = 0.153m
 
learningphysics said:
You didn't convert to m. Also, are you sure the rod is rotating about the center and not the end?

I think you're supposed to use r = 0.153m

ok so you think i should use r = 0.153m. So just wondering but what would be the difference between rotating about the center and not the end?
 
ilkjester said:
ok so you think i should use r = 0.153m. So just wondering but what would be the difference between rotating about the center and not the end?

ok so i got ac=2010^2/0.153
ac=41312.970
 
ilkjester said:
ok so you think i should use r = 0.153m. So just wondering but what would be the difference between rotating about the center and not the end?

I'm actually not really sure if they want you to use r = 0.153m or r = 0.0765m. :redface:

Just got the feeling they meant the distance from the pivot to the end of the rod is 0.153m... but I really don't know.
 
ilkjester said:
ok so i got ac=2010^2/0.153
ac=41312.970

how did you get that? I'm getting 2.64*10^7 m/s^2.
 
Thats alright I can do them with both that way i can't go wrong thank you again. But do you mind showing me how you converted them.
 
learningphysics said:
how did you get that? I'm getting 2.64*10^7 m/s^2.
Im not sure how i got it. Now I get the 2.64*10^7 m/s^2. I must have just hit some button on accident on the calc.
 
ilkjester said:
Thats alright I can do them with both that way i can't go wrong thank you again. But do you mind showing me how you converted them.

convert them? you mean the cm to m, g to kg?
 
  • #10
learningphysics said:
convert them? you mean the cm to m, g to kg?

Yeah I should probably learn how to do it.
 
  • #11
ilkjester said:
Yeah I should probably learn how to do it.

no prob.

[tex]1cm = 10^{-2} m[/tex]

[tex]1g = 10^{-3} kg[/tex]

I can get the inverse relations... multiply both sides of the first equation by 100. second by 1000.

so:

[tex]100cm = 1 m[/tex]

[tex]1000g = 1 kg[/tex]

so I can convert one way or the other...

so [tex]15.3cm = 15.3*(10^{-2}m) = 0.153m[/tex]

what's really handy for converting units is the "factor label" method:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_conversion_by_factor-label
 
  • #12
ok so the teacher said that we use r=0.153m so to find the centripetal acceleration. ac=v^2/r so to find velocity i do distance/time so would it be 0.153m/2010m/s. would that be how i find velocity. because i also have a circular motion equation for velocity which is v=delta r/ delta time
 
  • #13
ilkjester said:
ok so the teacher said that we use r=0.153m so to find the centripetal acceleration. ac=v^2/r so to find velocity i do distance/time so would it be 0.153m/2010m/s. would that be how i find velocity. because i also have a circular motion equation for velocity which is v=delta r/ delta time

I don't understand. We already got the answer. You said you got the same answer as me 2.64*10^7 in post#8.
 
  • #14
Yeah I remember now but yeah we used the whole diameter instead of the circumfrance.
 
  • #15
ilkjester said:
Yeah I remember now but yeah we used the whole diameter instead of the circumfrance.

Hmmm... ac = v^2/r. Your teacher said we use r = 0.153 right?

ac = 2010^2/0.153 = 2.64*10^7 m/s^2
 
  • #16
yep that's what i got thanks
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
5K