Connecting Linear and Rotational Motion
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AP Physics C: Mechanics › Connecting Linear and Rotational Motion
A fan blade of radius $$0.25$$ m is rotating at $$120$$ rad/s. It is then turned off and decelerates uniformly, coming to rest in $$8.0$$ s. What is the magnitude of the total linear acceleration of a point on the tip of the blade at the instant it is turned off ($$t=0$$)?
$$3600 \text{ m/s}^2$$
$$3.75 \text{ m/s}^2$$
$$3604 \text{ m/s}^2$$
$$14400 \text{ m/s}^2$$
Explanation
At $$t=0$$, the initial angular velocity is $$\omega_0 = 120$$ rad/s. The angular acceleration is constant: $$\alpha = (\omega_f - \omega_0) / t = (0 - 120 \text{ rad/s}) / 8.0 \text{ s} = -15 \text{ rad/s}^2$$. The tangential acceleration is $$a_T = R|\alpha| = (0.25 \text{ m})(15 \text{ rad/s}^2) = 3.75 \text{ m/s}^2$$. The centripetal acceleration at $$t=0$$ is $$a_c = R\omega_0^2 = (0.25 \text{ m})(120 \text{ rad/s})^2 = 3600 \text{ m/s}^2$$. The total acceleration is $$a = \sqrt{a_T^2 + a_c^2} = \sqrt{(3.75)^2 + (3600)^2} \approx \sqrt{14 + 12960000} \approx 3600 \text{ m/s}^2$$. The centripetal component is much larger than the tangential component, so the total acceleration is very close to the centripetal acceleration.
A disk of radius $$2R$$ rotates from rest about its center with a constant angular acceleration $$\alpha$$. Consider point A at radius $$R$$ and point B at radius $$2R$$. After a non-zero time $$t$$, what is the ratio of the magnitude of the total linear acceleration of point B to that of point A, $$a_B / a_A$$?
$$1$$
$$1/2$$
$$4$$
$$2$$
Explanation
For any point at radius $$r$$, the tangential acceleration is $$a_T = r\alpha$$ and the centripetal acceleration is $$a_c = r\omega^2$$. After time $$t$$, the angular velocity is $$\omega = \alpha t$$. The magnitude of the total acceleration is $$a = \sqrt{a_T^2 + a_c^2} = \sqrt{(r\alpha)^2 + (r\omega^2)^2} = \sqrt{r^2\alpha^2 + r^2\alpha^2t^4} = r\alpha\sqrt{1 + \alpha^2t^4}$$. Since $$\alpha$$ and $$t$$ are the same for both points, the total acceleration is directly proportional to the radius $$r$$. Therefore, the ratio $$a_B / a_A = (2R) / R = 2$$.
A turntable rotates about a vertical axis through its center with a constant angular velocity $$\omega$$. What is the magnitude of the total linear acceleration of a point located on its edge, at a radius $$r$$?
$$r\alpha$$, because only tangential acceleration is present.
$$\sqrt{(r\alpha)^2 + (r\omega^2)^2}$$, because both acceleration components are present.
Zero, because the angular velocity is constant.
$$r\omega^2$$, because only centripetal acceleration is present.
Explanation
The total linear acceleration is the vector sum of the tangential acceleration ($$a_T$$) and the centripetal acceleration ($$a_c$$). Tangential acceleration is given by $$a_T = r\alpha$$, where $$\alpha$$ is the angular acceleration. Since the angular velocity $$\omega$$ is constant, the angular acceleration $$\alpha = d\omega/dt$$ is zero, so $$a_T = 0$$. The centripetal acceleration is given by $$a_c = r\omega^2$$. Since this is the only non-zero component, the magnitude of the total linear acceleration is $$r\omega^2$$.
A solid cylinder of radius $$R$$ has a string wrapped around its circumference. The string unwinds without slipping as the cylinder's center of mass accelerates downward with a constant translational acceleration of magnitude $$a$$. Which expression represents the magnitude of the angular acceleration, $$\alpha$$, of the cylinder?
$$a/R$$
$$R/a$$
$$a/R^2$$
$$aR$$
Explanation
The condition that the string unwinds without slipping means that the tangential acceleration of a point on the rim of the cylinder must be equal to the linear acceleration of the string. Since the string's linear motion corresponds to the cylinder's translational motion, the tangential acceleration of the rim, $$a_T$$, must equal the acceleration of the center of mass, $$a$$. The relationship between tangential and angular acceleration is $$a_T = R\alpha$$. Therefore, $$a = R\alpha$$, which can be rearranged to find the angular acceleration: $$\alpha = a/R$$.
A sphere of radius $$R$$ rolls without slipping on a horizontal plane. The center of mass of the sphere has a constant horizontal acceleration $$a_{cm}$$. What is the linear acceleration, with respect to the plane, of the point on the sphere that is in contact with the plane?
$$a_{cm}$$ directed backward
$$a_{cm}$$ directed forward
Zero
$$2a_{cm}$$ directed forward
Explanation
The condition of rolling without slipping means that the point of the rolling object in contact with the surface is momentarily at rest with respect to that surface. If it were not, the object would be sliding. This applies to both velocity and acceleration. The acceleration of the contact point is the vector sum of the center of mass acceleration ($$a_{cm}$$ forward) and the tangential acceleration due to rotation ($$a_T$$ backward). For no slipping, $$a_{cm} = R\alpha$$ and $$a_T = R\alpha$$, so the magnitudes are equal. Their vector sum at the contact point is zero.
Two pulleys are connected by a belt that does not slip. Pulley A has radius $$R_A$$ and Pulley B has radius $$R_B$$, with $$R_A = 2R_B$$. If Pulley A rotates with a constant angular speed $$\omega_A$$, what is the angular speed of Pulley B, $$\omega_B$$?
$$\omega_A$$
$$0.5 \omega_A$$
$$0.25 \omega_A$$
$$2 \omega_A$$
Explanation
Since the belt does not slip, the linear speed of any point on the belt must be constant. This linear speed is equal to the tangential speed of the rim of each pulley. Thus, $$v_A = v_B$$. Using the relation $$v = R\omega$$, we have $$R_A \omega_A = R_B \omega_B$$. Solving for $$\omega_B$$ gives $$\omega_B = \omega_A (R_A / R_B)$$. Given that $$R_A = 2R_B$$, we get $$\omega_B = \omega_A (2R_B / R_B) = 2\omega_A$$.
The angular position of a flywheel is described by the equation $$\theta(t) = At^3 - Bt$$, where $$A$$ and $$B$$ are positive constants. What is the tangential component of the linear acceleration of a point on the flywheel's rim at radius $$R$$ as a function of time $$t$$?
$$R(At^3 - Bt)$$
$$R(6At)$$
$$R(3At^2 - B)$$
$$R(3At^2)$$
Explanation
The tangential acceleration $$a_T$$ is related to the angular acceleration $$\alpha$$ by $$a_T = R\alpha$$. The angular acceleration is the second time derivative of the angular position. First, find the angular velocity: $$\omega(t) = d\theta/dt = 3At^2 - B$$. Then, find the angular acceleration: $$\alpha(t) = d\omega/dt = 6At$$. Therefore, the tangential acceleration is $$a_T(t) = R\alpha(t) = R(6At) = 6ARt$$.
A disk of radius $$R$$ rotates about its central axis. Its angular velocity is given by $$\omega(t) = kt$$, where $$k$$ is a positive constant. What is the magnitude of the total linear acceleration of a point on the rim at time $$t > 0$$?
$$Rk\sqrt{1 + k^2t^4}$$
$$Rk(1 + kt^2)$$
$$Rk$$
$$Rk^2t^2$$
Explanation
The angular acceleration is $$\alpha = d\omega/dt = k$$. The tangential acceleration is $$a_T = R\alpha = Rk$$. The centripetal acceleration is $$a_c = R\omega^2 = R(kt)^2 = Rk^2t^2$$. The total linear acceleration is the magnitude of the vector sum of these perpendicular components: $$a = \sqrt{a_T^2 + a_c^2} = \sqrt{(Rk)^2 + (Rk^2t^2)^2} = \sqrt{R^2k^2 + R^2k^4t^4} = Rk\sqrt{1 + k^2t^4}$$.
A wheel of radius $$R$$ starts from rest and rotates about its center with a constant angular acceleration $$\alpha$$. What is the magnitude of the total linear acceleration of a point on the rim at the instant the wheel has completed its first full revolution?
$$R\alpha$$
$$4\pi R\alpha$$
$$R\alpha \sqrt{1 + 4\pi}$$
$$R\alpha \sqrt{1 + 16\pi^2}$$
Explanation
After one revolution, the angular displacement is $$\theta = 2\pi$$. Using rotational kinematics, $$\omega^2 = \omega_0^2 + 2\alpha\theta$$. Since it starts from rest, $$\omega_0=0$$, so $$\omega^2 = 2\alpha(2\pi) = 4\pi\alpha$$. The tangential acceleration is constant, $$a_T = R\alpha$$. The centripetal acceleration is $$a_c = R\omega^2 = R(4\pi\alpha) = 4\pi R\alpha$$. The total acceleration is the vector sum of these perpendicular components: $$a = \sqrt{a_T^2 + a_c^2} = \sqrt{(R\alpha)^2 + (4\pi R\alpha)^2} = R\alpha\sqrt{1 + 16\pi^2}$$.
A rigid disk rotates about a fixed axis through its center. Point P is on the rim at radius $$R$$, and point Q is at a distance $$R/2$$ from the center. Which of the following correctly relates the tangential speed of point P ($$v_P$$) to the tangential speed of point Q ($$v_Q$$)?
$$v_P = 4 v_Q$$
$$v_P = 0.5 v_Q$$
$$v_P = 2 v_Q$$
$$v_P = v_Q$$
Explanation
All points on a rigid rotating disk have the same angular velocity, $$\omega$$. The tangential speed $$v$$ of a point at a distance $$r$$ from the axis of rotation is given by $$v = r\omega$$. Therefore, $$v_P = R\omega$$ and $$v_Q = (R/2)\omega$$. The ratio of the speeds is $$v_P / v_Q = (R\omega) / ((R/2)\omega) = 2$$, which means $$v_P = 2v_Q$$.