A flywheel with a diameter of 1.42 m is rotating at an angular speed of 207 rev/min. (a) What is the angular speed of the flywheel in radians per second? (b) What is the linear speed of a point on the rim of the flywheel? (c) What constant angular acceleration (in revolutions per minute-squared) will increase the wheel's angular speed to 1410 rev/min in 80.5 s? (d) How many revolutions does the wheel make during that 80.5 s?

a. 21.68 rad/s b. 30.78 m/s c. 897 rev/min² d. 1085 revolutions

Explanation:

a. Its angular speed in radians per second  ω = angular speed in rev/min × 2π/60 = 207 rev/min × 2π/60 = 21.68 rad/s

b. The linear speed of a point on the flywheel is gotten from v = rω where r = radius of flywheel = 1.42 m

So, v = rω = 1.42 m × 21.68 rad/s = 30.78 m/s

c. Using α = (ω₁ - ω)/t where α = angular acceleration of flywheel, ω = initial angular speed of wheel in rev/min = 21.68 rad/s = 207 rev/min, ω₁ = final angular speed of wheel in rev/min = 1410 rev/min = 147.65 rad/s, t = time in minutes = 80.5/60 min = 1.342 min

α = (ω₁ - ω)/t

  = (1410 - 207)/(80.5/60)

  = 60(1410 - 207)/80.5

  = 60(1203)80.5

  = 896.65 rev/min² ≅ 897 rev/min²

d. Using θ = ωt + 1/2αt²

where θ = number of revolutions of flywheel. Substituting the values of the variables from above, ω = 207 rev/min, α = 896.65 rev/min² and  t = 80.5/60 min = 1.342 min

θ = ωt + 1/2αt²

  = 207 × 1.342 + 1/2 × 896.65 × 1.342²

  = 277.725 + 807.417

  = 1085.14 revolutions ≅ 1085 revolutions