# Why is (not) the resulting unit of this equation rad/s ?

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1. Jun 11, 2015

### hackYou

Hi guys,
My first time here. Looks like a nice forum with friendly members.

I have a question. I'm kinda confused by this (and I know it's a shame since I'm on my third year University, almost making my degree).

What I remember from my kinematics/dynamics classes this (or similar) equation always yielded the result in rad/s but now I'm stuck here. I can't justify it using SI units. What I get as output is 1/s which as much as I know is the Hz. Meaning 1 revolution per second and not 1 radian per second.

If anyone could chime in and clarify this for me would be nice.

P.S. My first time here. I didn't know how to insert math equations so I inserted a picture. If this is somehow against the site rules or in the wrong place feel free to remove it or tell me and I'll do it myself.

2. Jun 11, 2015

### BiGyElLoWhAt

I hope that helped.

Welcome to PF by the way.

3. Jun 11, 2015

### Hesch

There is a lot of (public) confusion here.
The unit, [rad], does not exist as SI-unit. So the unit as for ω is simply [s-1 ]. But people are just writing [ rad/s ] to clarify the meaning. Also Hz has the unit [ s-1 ], but here [ rounds/s ] or [periods/s] is meant. So as for myself I prefer [ rad/s ] = [ s-1 ] and [ Hz ] = [ Hz ]. If all people agreed that, no confusion would exist about this.

So your attached equation is ok: [ rad/s ] = [ 1/s ].

4. Jun 11, 2015

### stedwards

I had a similar issue concerning moles in taking chemistry classes. I found it very useful to assume mole as a unit in order to balance chemical formula. A mole is another example of a "count", as bigyellowhat points out.

It has been assign an System International unit, as has a radian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(unit)#The_mole_as_a_unit

Last edited: Jun 11, 2015
5. Jun 11, 2015

### hackYou

Now I'm even more confused. Every where is stated that the unit for angle is radia. What exactly do you guys mean with it s not a SI unit?

Hesch, unfortunately i can t just set rad = 1/s because i m facing a problem where these two units(?) yield different results where the rad/sec one seems to be closer to the desired output.

6. Jun 11, 2015

### Hesch

I've not written that rad = 1/s, but that [rad] is not a SI-unit and thus [rad/s] = [1/s] = [s-1].

7. Jun 11, 2015

### BiGyElLoWhAt

rad $\neq$ 1/s
As for the unit of the angle issue, a radian is a ratio of a circle, by a factor of 2 pi, which is unitless, 1 circle is unitless, and 1 radian is the angle encompassed by 1 radius' worth of circumference.

8. Jun 11, 2015

### hackYou

That's what I meant. I was writing from my phone and made that mistake. Thanks for the input.

9. Jun 11, 2015

### hackYou

Well if you say that rad/s = 1/s which in terms is equal to Hz. How do you explain these formulas taken from another website? Or am I missing the point completely?

1 rad/s = 1/2π Hz = 0.1591549 Hz or 1 Hz = 2π rad/s = 6.2831853 rad/s

10. Jun 11, 2015

### BiGyElLoWhAt

The only difference is a unitless scalar multiple. Hz is frequency and angular velocity equals 2 pi times frequency.

11. Jun 11, 2015

### Hesch

Well, these formulas are correct, but you can do a interesting proof:

1 Hz = 6.28 rad/s , [Hz] = [s-1] , [rad/s] = [s-1] →

1 [s-1] = 6.28 [s-1] →

6.28 = 1

Confusing ?

12. Jun 11, 2015

### stedwards

I think what we are dealing with can be understood in terms of "reduced" vs. "exact" units. My terms. In "reduced units", dimensionless units may be omitted. Note that, units of Hertz replace the older units of cycles/second.

If it confuses problem solving to omit units, include them. There are no hard and fast rules. If the final result must omit radians from the answer, remove them in the last step.

13. Jun 11, 2015

### hackYou

Well, my problem(a small but important part of it) is something like this: I have the power output of a shaft and the torque and need to calculate the angular velocity of this shaft. $$\omega = \frac{P}{T}$$ Like I said, I know the result's units 'are' rad/s. But I never put too much thought into it until now where I'm trying to design a machine with some gears shafts and an electrical motor (stuyding mechanical engineering by the way) and the units don't fit but must be included when I deliver the paper to my mentor.

The thing is that it kinda looks weird to deal with the units like I did on my question (first post) here and at last, when the result comes out as 1/s, just pull a radian out of my ass and make it rad/s!

NOTE. This is not part of any homework. I need this for a university project.

14. Jun 11, 2015

### Hesch

ω = P / T →
s-1 = ( J/s ) / (N*m )) = ( J/s ) / J = s-1

The unit [ Nm ] is the unit for torque and for energy.

J = kgm2 / s2

N = kgm / s2

Last edited: Jun 11, 2015
15. Jun 11, 2015

### hackYou

I need the result to be in radians/s because this is only one part of a more complex calculation that follows and the end result is (if i use 1/s as units) a shaft with a diameter of 40 cm, which is a BS size (huge).

Let's keep it simple (i don't want to post my whole project here) and take it only one step further. Say how would I calculate the velocity of this shaft in rpm if I have the power of the shaft something like 2 or 3 (kW) or whatever and the torque 5 (Nm) for example.

Thank you.

16. Jun 11, 2015

### Hesch

The result is in [rad/s] = [s-1]
P = 3W , T = 5 Nm.

ω = P / T = 0.6 [s-1]

0.6 [s-1] = 60 [s/min] * 0.6 [s-1] / 2π = 5.73 rpm

17. Jun 11, 2015

### hackYou

Thank you but I'm still not getting the hang of it. It's exactly the same thing happening to my calculations too. This rpm value you calculated seems a little too big. The same goes for my shaft (no pun intended). But when I use the these online calculators for Hz to rad/s the result I get seems more reasonable.

I don't know if I can post links of other sites here. When i use the online calc. from convertunits.com I get 3.769 as a result!
This is driving me nuts!!!

18. Jun 11, 2015

### stedwards

Yes. Enough philosphy. (lol) You want this.

$$\omega [rad/s] = \frac{P[J/s]}{T[J/rad]}$$

Torque is an angular quantity, after all.

Last edited: Jun 11, 2015
19. Jun 12, 2015

### hackYou

OK. This makes sense. I could(should) have figured out that much myself. The recent days were certainly not my best.

Thank you.

20. Feb 3, 2017

### JR Jonsson

I think you are clever.
Obviously there is an error in the conventions when energy equals torque.
Torque should have the unit Nm/rad.

21. Feb 3, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

You are aware that no one has responded to this thread in over a year, right?

22. Feb 4, 2017

Yes