Question

8. An unpowered flywheel is slowed by a constant frictional torque. At time t = 0 it has an angular velocity of 200 rad/s. Ten seconds later its velocity has decreased by 15%. What is its angular velocity at a) time t = 50 s and b) t = 100 s?

Answer 1

Answer:

a) $\omega = 50\,\frac{rad}{s}$, b) $\omega = 0\,\frac{rad}{s}$

Explanation:

The magnitude of torque is a form of moment, that is, a product of force and lever arm (distance), and force is the product of mass and acceleration for rotating systems with constant mass. That is:

$\tau = F \cdot r$

$\tau = m\cdot a \cdot r$

$\tau = m \cdot \alpha \cdot r^{2}$

Where $\alpha$ is the angular acceleration, which is constant as torque is constant. Angular deceleration experimented by the unpowered flywheel is:

$\alpha = \frac{170\,\frac{rad}{s} - 200\,\frac{rad}{s} }{10\,s}$

$\alpha = -3\,\frac{rad}{s^{2}}$

Now, angular velocities of the unpowered flywheel at 50 seconds and 100 seconds are, respectively:

a) t = 50 s.

$\omega = 200\,\frac{rad}{s} - \left(3\,\frac{rad}{s^{2}} \right) \cdot (50\,s)$

$\omega = 50\,\frac{rad}{s}$

b) t = 100 s.

Given that friction is of reactive nature. Frictional torque works on the unpowered flywheel until angular velocity is reduced to zero, whose instant is:

$t = \frac{0\,\frac{rad}{s}-200\,\frac{rad}{s} }{\left(-3\,\frac{rad}{s^{2}} \right)}$

$t = 66.667\,s$

Since $t > 66.667\,s$, then the angular velocity is equal to zero. Therefore:

$\omega = 0\,\frac{rad}{s}$