Angular and Linear Speed of a Point

In summary, the conversation discussed the calculation of angles and arc lengths, with an example of converting units for dimensional consistency. It was determined that for (i), the angle generated would be 2π/3, for (ii) the unit would be in seconds, and for (iii) the unit would be in centimeters per second.
  • #1
karush
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my ? on (i) is since it is asking for an angle and not a arc length
then the angle generated would be just

\(\displaystyle \displaystyle 8\frac{\pi}{12}=\frac{2\pi}{3}\)

or not?
 
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  • #2
Yes, that's right, although you might want to get in the habit of carrying the units as a means of making sure your result is dimensionally correct:

\(\displaystyle \theta=\omega t=\frac{\pi}{12}\frac{\text{rad}}{\text{s}} \cdot8\text{s}=\frac{2\pi}{3}\text{ rad}\)
 
  • #3
so (ii) would be just $\text {s}=\theta\text{ r}$

$\displaystyle\frac{2\pi}{3}\text{rad}\cdot60\text { cm}=40\ \pi\text { cm}$

and (iii) would be

$\displaystyle \frac{5\pi\text { cm}}{s}$
 
Last edited:
  • #4
karush said:
so (ii) would be just $\text {s}=\theta\text{ r}$

$\displaystyle\frac{2\pi}{3}\text{rad}\cdot60\text { cm}=40\ \pi\text { cm}$

and (iii) would be

$\displaystyle \frac{5\pi\text { cm}}{s}$

Yes, those are correct.(Sun)
 
  • #5


Yes, that is correct. The angle generated would be 2π/3 if the arc length is 8π/12. This is because the relationship between angular speed and linear speed is given by the formula:

Angular speed = linear speed / radius

In this case, if the arc length is 8π/12 and the radius is 1, then the linear speed would be 8π/12 and the angular speed would be 8π/12 divided by 1, which is 2π/3.
 

FAQ: Angular and Linear Speed of a Point

What is the difference between angular and linear speed?

Angular speed refers to the rate at which an object rotates or moves around a central point, measured in radians per second. Linear speed, on the other hand, refers to the rate at which an object moves in a straight line, measured in units such as meters per second. In simple terms, angular speed is the speed of rotation, while linear speed is the speed of translation.

How are angular and linear speed related?

The relationship between angular and linear speed can be described by the formula v = rω, where v is linear speed, r is the radius of the circle, and ω is the angular speed. This means that the linear speed of a point on a rotating object is directly proportional to its distance from the center of rotation and the angular speed of the object.

How is angular speed measured?

Angular speed is measured in units of radians per second (rad/s). One radian is equal to the amount of rotation that occurs when the arc length of a circle is equal to its radius. This helps to standardize the measurement of angular speed, as it is independent of the size of the circle.

Can angular speed be negative?

Yes, angular speed can be negative. This occurs when an object is rotating in the opposite direction of the chosen reference direction. The sign of the angular speed indicates the direction of rotation, with a positive value indicating counterclockwise rotation and a negative value indicating clockwise rotation.

How does the radius affect angular and linear speed?

The radius has a direct impact on both angular and linear speed. As the radius increases, both speeds also increase, as seen in the formula v = rω. This means that a point on the outer edge of a rotating object will have a higher angular and linear speed than a point closer to the center of rotation.

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