Linear & Angular Velocity

Things that turn have both a

linear velocity and an angular velocity.

www.vcsc.k12.in.us/lincoln/math/CaseNotes/.../LinearAngVel.ppt
Linear Velocity

Definition:

Linear Velocity is distance/time:

s
v Distance

Linear t Time
Speed
Angular Velocity
Definition:
Angular Velocity is turn/time:

Rotation in

 radians


Angular
Speed
t
Time
(omega)
Linear & Angular Velocity
s
Definition of Linear Velocity: v
t
s=r
Recall Arc Length Formula
r 
v
t

Recall angular velocity Formula  
t

Linear Velocity in terms of Angular Velocity: v  r

Let us take 2 pendulums hung on a
slim rotating rod for analysis.
 If the 2 pendulums (A and B)
rotate one full cycle, the time
taken by them is the same.
•They covered the same amount
of angular distance (360 degree)
within the same amount of time.
This showed that they have exactly the
SAME angular speed.
But is the Linear speed the same?

http://mathsisinteresting.blogspot.com/2008/08/linear-angular-speed.html
Let us take 2 pendulums hung on a
slim rotating rod for analysis.
 The length of the 2 circumferences
travelled by the individual
pendulums are not the same.
The linear length or distance is
therefore NOT the same.
Length = 2 x (pi) x radius.
They took the same time to complete
one full cycle, though.
The linear speed is thus DIFFERENT, having
travelled different length for the same amount
of time.
http://mathsisinteresting.blogspot.com/2008/08/linear-angular-speed.html
Example:
1800km
A satellite traveling in a circular
orbit approximately 1800 km.
6400 km
above the surface of Earth
takes 2.5 hrs. to make an orbit.
The radius of the earth is
approximately 6400 km. *Not drawn to scale

a) Approximate the linear speed

of the satellite in kilometers per
hour.
b) Approximate the distance the
satellite travels in 3.5 hrs.
Example:
1800 km

r = 6400 + 1800 = 8200

t = 2.5 hrs. 6400 km

a) Approximate the linear speed

of the satellite in kilometers per Earth
hour. r
v
t
82002 
Not to scale

v
2.5
v  6560 km / hr
Example:
1800 km

r = 6400 + 1800 = 8200

t = 2.5 hrs. v  6560 km / hr 6400 km

b) Approximate the distance the

satellite travels in 3.5 hrs. Earth
s
v
t Not to scale
s
6560 
3.5
s  22960 km
A small pulley 6 cm in diameter is connected by a
belt to a larger pulley 15cm in diameter. The
small pulley is turning at 120 rpm.
a) Find the angular velocity of the small
pulley in radians per second.
b) Find the linear velocity of the rim of the
small pulley.

=6 cm =15 cm

Figure
A small pulley 6 cm in diameter is
connected by a belt to a larger pulley
15cm in diameter. The small pulley is
turning at 120 rpm.
a) Find the angular velocity of the small pulley in
radians per second.
120 rotations 2 1 min
  
1 min 1rotation 60 sec

 4 radians / sec
A small pulley 6 cm in diameter is
connected by a belt to a larger pulley
15cm in diameter. The small pulley is
turning at 120 rpm.   4 radians / sec
b) Find the linear velocity of the rim of the small
pulley.
v  r
v  3cm4 radians / sec
v  12 cm / sec
 1) A record is spinning at the rate of 25 rpm. If a ladybug is
sitting 10 cm from the center of the record:
a) What is the angular velocity of the ladybug? (in
radians/sec)
b) What is the speed of the ladybug? (in cm/sec)
c) After 20 seconds, how far has the ladybug traveled?
(in cm)
d) After 20 seconds, what angle has the ladybug turned
through? (in radians)
 2) An ant sits on a cd at a distance of 17 cm
from the center. If it sits there for 42 seconds, it
travels a total distance of 913 cm.
a) What angle has the ant turned
through? (in radians)
b) What speed has the ant been
traveling at? (in cm/sec)
c) What angular velocity has the ant
been spinning at? (in radians/sec)
d) What rpm is the cd turning at?
 3) A sling is being rotated at the rate of
100 rpm.
a) What will the length of the sling have
to be so that the speed of the object at the
end will be 40 meters per second? (in
meters)
b) If the sling is 1 meter long, how fast
will the object at the end be traveling? (in
meters per second)
 4) A sling that is 3 meters long, sweeps out
an area of 50 square meters every 5 seconds.
a) What is its angular velocity? (in
rad/sec)
b) What is its speed? (in m/sec)
c) How does doubling the length of
the sling affect the previous two
answers?