What is the Radial Acceleration of a Painting at 38.9° North?

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The discussion focuses on calculating the radial acceleration of a painting at 38.9° North latitude, emphasizing that objects at rest relative to Earth's surface experience circular motion due to Earth's rotation. Participants highlight issues with the calculations, noting that the use of pi should be squared and that the units for radius and period are inconsistent. The radius of the circular path differs from Earth's radius, which is approximately 6400 km. Clarifications on the correct parameters and units are requested to resolve the confusion in the calculations. Accurate measurements and understanding of the circular path are essential for determining the radial acceleration correctly.
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Homework Statement


Objects that are at rest relative to Earth's surface are in circular motion due to Earth's rotation. What is the radial acceleration of a painting hanging in a museum at a latitude of ϕ = 38.9° North? (Note that the object's radial acceleration is not directed toward the center of the Earth.)



Homework Equations




ac=v^2/r v=(4*Pi^2*r)/t^2

The Attempt at a Solution



ac=4Pi*2.3E13/576
im not sure what I'm doing wrong, any help? look at the attachment for more information
 

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Could you perhaps provide a little more detail in your solution. I'm not quite sure where your pulling some of those numbers from.
 
You forgot the square for pi (it's pi^2) and the units are mixed up.
You use the period in hours. I cannot figure out what unit you use for the radius...
Earth's radius is about 6400km (6.4 10^6 m). To get 10^13 we should measure it in fractions of microns or something...
 
nasu said:
You forgot the square for pi (it's pi^2) and the units are mixed up.
You use the period in hours. I cannot figure out what unit you use for the radius...
Earth's radius is about 6400km (6.4 10^6 m). To get 10^13 we should measure it in fractions of microns or something...
The radius of the Earth is not necessarily the radius of the circular path, in this case the radius of the path is significantly less than the radius of the earth.
 
Hootenanny said:
The radius of the Earth is not necessarily the radius of the circular path, in this case the radius of the path is significantly less than the radius of the earth.
No doubt. But at this stage I was just trying to do some estimate to figure out where that big number comes from.
Maybe the author will tell us himself.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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