#1) As denizens of the surface of a spinning planet, we are always in
uniform circular motion. Imagine you are in Nairobi (on the Earth's
equator) at noon on a Monday. Answer the following questions only
considering the rotation of the earth and NOT the Earth's circular motion
around the sun. The radius of the earth is 6371 km. A day is 24 hours.
#1a
Assuming that you are at θ=0 rad at noon on Monday and moving in the
positive θ direction, what is your position θ in rad on Tuesday at 11:00 am?
Answer:
2π 2π
The angular velocity of earth: ω= T = 24 ×60 × 60 =7.26E-5
ω=∆ θ /∆ t ∆ t=23 × 60× 60=82,800 ∆ θ=6.018 ≈ 6.02
#1b
Through what distance do you travel in this time in m?
v
ω= , v=ω ∙ r=7.26E-5 × 6371000=462.5346 m/s
r
x=v . t=462.5346 × 23 ×60 ×60=38297864.88 m
#1c
How fast are you travelling in m/s ?
v
ω= , v=ω ∙ r=7.26E-5 × 6371000=462.5346 m/s
r
#1d
What is your centripetal acceleration ¿ s2 ?
2
v 2
a c= =0.033 m/s
r
#2) A roller coaster heads into a circular loop with radius 5 m.
#2a
At what minimum speed must the coaster go at the top of the loop to be sure it
stays on the track in m/s?
2
v
mg+ N =ma c , N=0 , ac = , v min= √ g . r=7.07 m/ s
r
#2b
If the coaster is moving at 10m/s at the top of the loop, what is the centripetal
acceleration in m/s 2?
2
a c =20 m/s
#2c
If the coaster is moving at 10m/s at the top of the loop, what is the direction of
the normal force the track applies to the coaster at the top of the loop?
up
down
zero
#2d
If the 2000 kg coaster is moving at 10 m/s at the top of the loop, what is the
magnitude of the normal force that the track applies to the coaster in N?
mg+ N =ma c , N=m ( a c −g ) =20000 N
#3) You are travelling forward in a car at 20 m/s. Your car tires have a
radius of 33 cm.
#3a
What is the angular velocity of each tire in rad/s?
v 20
ω= = =60.60 rad / s
r 33× 10−2
#3 cont'd) You slam on the brakes, which slows the tires at an angular
acceleration of 40 rad/s2.
#3b
How long until the tires are no longer spinning (although the car may still be
sliding forward) in s?
ω 60.60
ω=α .t ,t= = =1.51 s
α 40
#3c
Through how many radians of rotation does each tire go from the time you
slam on the brakes until the tires stop spinning?
1 2
∆ θ=ω 0 t− α t =45.9
2
#4) Modern hard drives spin very fast! The part that holds the data is a
disk called the platter. Assume an aluminum platter that is 3.5 in in
diameter, 1 mm thick, and spinning at 5400 rpm. Treat the platter as a
solid disk - don't worry about the hole in the middle.
#4a
What is the angular momentum of the platter in kg - m2 /s when it is spinning
at full speed?
d = 3.5 in * 0.0254 m/ 1 in = 0.0889 m, r = d/2 = 0.04445 m,
rev rad kg
, ρ=2710 3 , thick =h=1 mm=10 m ,m= ρ× V =ρ × ( π r h ) =0.01681 kg
−3 2
ω=5400 =565.2
minutes s m
V is Volume of disk that is same as small cylinder and ρ is density of
aluminum.
1 2 2
L=Iω= m r × ω=0.0093 kg−m /s
2
#4b
You are a 70 kg astronaut floating at rest in zero gravity holding your laptop.
Your hard drive turns on (increasing from 0 to 5400 rpm. How fast do you spin
in rad/s? Approximate yourself as a uniform sphere of radius 30 cm - I know
you've always wanted to do that.
According to conservation of momentum = L= 0.0093
−2 2 2 L
r =30 cm=30 ×10 m , L= mr ω , ω= =0.0036 rad /s
5 2 2
mr
5
#5) Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, had a mass
of 83.6 kg and travelled at 7574 m/s. The radius of the earth is 6371 km
and its mass is 5.972 * 1024 kg. (NOTE: You may find different numbers
online since there was some uncertainty in the exact orbit. These
numbers were chosen to keep this question consistent. Also, this
question requires a subtraction, which can cause difficulty with the
numerical tolerance. Keep about 5 figures as you go through the
calculation. I have increased the tolerance to 10%).
#5a
How high was Sputnik above the ground in meters during its orbit?
m= 83.6 kg, v=7574 m/s, re = 6371 * 103 , Me = 5.972 * 1024 kg, G= 6.67 * 10-11 m3/kg
s
v
2
m Me
m =G , h=572765 m
r e +h (r e +h)
2
#5b
What gravitational force did Sputnik apply to the earth during this orbit?
m Me
F g=G 2
=690.65 N
(r e +h)
#6) A heavy 7 kg mass on a weak 12 N/m spring oscillates with an
amplitude of 23 cm.
#6a
At what frequency in Hz does the mass oscillate?
1 1
f= = √ k /m=0.208 Hz
T 2π
#6b
What is the greatest speed the mass reaches in m/s during its oscillation?
2π v r −2 m
ω= , ω= , v=2 π , r=23 cm=23 ×10 m , v=0.3011
T r T s
